The Case for Cans
Yesterday we published a Guest Posting by Gary Leigh, the founder of GO Kombucha The Risks of Packaging Kombucha in Aluminium Cans. This article, reprinted from the Fall 2021 edition of SYMBIOSIS Magazine, features a few of the many brands who have chosen to sell canned kombucha. We are interested in hearing the views of other companies that have chosen cans and encourage them to post comments (below).
Doing the Can-Can
Cans are environmentally friendly, recyclable, and acceptable in venues that don’t allow glass. Many eco-conscious brands encourage consumers to recycle glass. However, for some consumers and fermentation purists, concerns about leaching from liners mean they are unwilling to consider this option. Can kombucha in cans win over consumers? Here are some brands that believe they can.
Kombucha Town, Bellingham, Washington
Kombucha Town was among the first to sell kombucha in cans. Founder Chris McCoy notes that: “Newer kombucha consumers are more accepting of beverages in cans. They understand the need to have a stable, conditioned product that does not continue to ferment in the can. They’ve seen a growing acceptance of kombucha in cans but acknowledge there is a strong bias among established kombucha consumers for glass. They look for ways to carry refreshments to picnics, beaches, and outdoor venues where cans are easier to transport.” McCoy had to overcome the challenge of can shortages resulting from the pandemic as major soda and beer brands’ demand skyrocketed. He had independent labs run extensive tests on his product to ensure the can lining does not leach into acidic liquids. He’s satisfied that the linings designated BPA Non-intent (BPANI) developed by the can manufacturing industry certifies the material does not contain any BPA and are safe for consumers. Kombucha Town also supplies kegs to consumers who consume larger quantities at events.
Spring Branch Kombucha, Springfield, Missouri
Jessica and Chris Ollis started Spring Branch Kombucha as a draft-only business in 2018, selling to distributors in kegs. However, the pandemic significantly accelerated the move into cans, and they have been shipping and selling in cans for the past year.
Chris notes that “The drawback with glass bottles is that they are not suitable for more active lifestyles where consumers want to enjoy kombucha around a pool or need lighter weight for backpacking trips. Logistically, packing bottles for a road trip can be more challenging than stacking a couple of 4-packs into a cooler. Plus, a single serving 12 oz can is just the right amount for many situations and much less expensive when shipping directly to consumers from our e-commerce store.”
Consumers seem to be more likely to recycle aluminum than glass. Chris also noted the influence of the craft beer industry, where many high-end brewers moved into cans for premium beverages without losing credibility or consumers.
In the reopening, keg sales have recovered, and they are pleased to offer both environmentally friendly packaging options. Many customers enjoy the product on draft. So having both options provides for maximum flexibility and choice.
Whalebird Kombucha, San Luis Obispo, California
Whalebird founder Mike Durighello started distributing hard kombucha in cans at the end of 2020. Before the pandemic, most of their business was with large offices on draft. Their primary distribution of kegs to hundreds of offices evaporated overnight. They pivoted to hard kombucha differentiated by not having the “yeasty and bready” taste typical of much hard kombucha. They chose to ferment a clean tasting drink which dovetailed with a move into cans. They’ve supplemented their three flavors of hard kombucha and five classic flavors with a new line-up of hard seltzers. They anticipate a resurgence in kegs as offices reopen.
Further growth of draft kombucha faces the challenge of securing tap space for typical one-sixth five-gallon kegs compared to the half-barrels of beer that bars prefer. Mike recommends smaller brands get into grocery stores where the ‘planogram’ schematic (a visual representation of products on display) enables growing shelf space as sales numbers justify space at each quarterly reset.
Nunc Living Jun, Buckingham, England
Sustainability drove Nunc’s decision to use cans. However, canning is expensive compared to bottling. While purchasing a bottle capping machine costs less than £100, a can seamer is at least £600. Given the expense of canning, Nunc used a beer gun to fill cans in the beginning. But this manual approach was not scalable. When Nunc outgrew it, they purchased a four-head can-filling machine for £4,000 (the equivalent bottling machine is half the price). Co-founder Andrew Mills says, “Our next step is a semi-automatic canning line, which will cost at least £20,000, so we may have to outsource canning to a third party.” He adds that “While the decision to use cans over bottles is expensive, offsetting this is lower ongoing operational costs. It costs less to send out orders, cans are cheaper, and they have reduced storage costs. Our customers have responded favorably due to the environmental benefits.”
Pros and Cons
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2021 edition of SYMBIOSIS – the Official Journal of Kombucha Brewers International. Both print-on-demand and electronic versions of the magazine are available for purchase.
KBI PUBLIC Magazines: Symbiosis Magazine – Fall 2021
SYMBIOSIS Magazine is the official Journal of Kombucha Brewers International. Enjoy brewing tips and techniques, equipment reviews, industry stats and information to improve your business. Plus well researched scientific articles on the health benefits, brewery member profiles, food pairings, and…
Update: Andrew Mills of Nunc Living Jun weighs in on the debate about the risks of aluminum cans:
One of the leading brands in the USA, Brew Dr, compared glass bottles and cans (they sell in both)
Radiate Miami posted on Instagram their reasons for choosing cans:
Embracing Sustainability, One Can at a Time!
We’re committed to making a positive impact on the environment while providing you with delicious and refreshing kombucha. That’s why we’ve chosen aluminum cans as our preferred packaging. Here’s why:
Sustainability Champion: By opting for aluminum cans, we’re reducing our carbon footprint and embracing a more sustainable future.
Infinite Recycling: Our aluminum cans are 100% recyclable and can be endlessly recycled without losing quality. Join us in closing the loop and contributing to a circular economy. 75% of aluminum that has ever been made is still in use. This is because metal can be recycled over and over again.
Choosing aluminum cans as a packaging solution aligns with the principles of the circular economy, promoting a more sustainable and environmentally conscious way of doing business.
Protecting Freshness: Aluminum cans shield our kombucha from light and oxygen, ensuring that every sip is as invigorating and flavorful as the first.
Lightweight & Portable: Our cans are perfect for your active, on-the-go lifestyle. Take Radiate Miami with you to the beach, yoga class, or wherever your adventures lead!
Aluminum cans are lightweight, resulting in reduced transportation energy and emissions. The recycling process produces less greenhouse gas emissions and generates less waste.
How about glass? 80% of all glass that enters the waste system ends up in landfills. Only 20% gets recycled. Once ion the landfill, glass bottles take 4,000 to 1 million years to decompose.
Join us in making a conscious choice for a greener planet. Together, let’s radiate positive energy while enjoying the refreshing taste of kombucha!
Denver, Colorado-based Twin Monkeys (“leaders in modular and compact canning solutions for all craft beverages.”) lists the advantage of cans:
An Advantage to Canning vs. Bottling: Lower Shipping Costs
There are many benefits of aluminum beverage cans over glass bottles. Aluminum cans are much lighter, are recycled more abundantly, and offer superior protection against UV light compared to glass bottles. The sustainable advantage of cans over bottles should be a significant factor in any decision-making process, but they’re also better for profit margins.
Aluminum cans are better for both the beverage they contain and the environment in which they’re made by a large margin. The cost and energy savings—from manufacturing, shipping and filling, transporting filled cans, and eventually recycling them back into the supply process—are considerable.
Green Packaging
Aluminum cans are typically made of 73% recycled material, compared to 23% recycled content for glass bottles and less than 6% for plastic containers. Aluminum is recycled at a much higher rate than glass or plastic—20% more often than glass bottles.
Aluminum cans require much less packaging than glass bottles or other alternatives, reducing the amount of energy spent in the production of cardboard as well as preventing further deforestation by reducing the demand for paper products.
Energy-Efficient Aluminum Cans
The sustainable advantage of cans isn’t limited to shipping. Logistical benefits can further improve the profit margins of both a beverage producer and its customers. Through increased efficiency in both warehousing and point-of-sale storage, aluminum cans further minimize their carbon footprint by requiring less space to store and by being easier to cool than glass bottles.
They can be stacked much more densely, and because the average thickness of an aluminum beverage can is thinner than a human hair, they can be chilled to serving temperature much more quickly than beverages in glass bottles.
Highly Recyclable
Post-consumer, aluminum is a clear winner again—by an even more impressive margin. A recent report by EuroNews compared the energy savings when recycling a metric ton of glass and when recycling the same weight in aluminum. Recycling glass saves 42 kilowatts of energy and 54 cubic feet of landfill space. Aluminum, when recycled, saves 14,000 kilowatt-hours and 270 cubic feet of landfill space.
In terms of fossil fuels, the savings are more pronounced yet again. Recycling glass saved an estimated 91 liters of oil—about 24 gallons. Recycling aluminum saved 6,545 liters—or over 1,700 gallons—of fossil fuel consumption.
Benefits of Aluminum Cans over Glass Bottles
• Aluminum cans can be filled much more quickly because of their shape, increasing efficiency.
• Aluminum cans are cheaper to produce, contain significant recycled content and have a much smaller carbon footprint than glass bottles.
• Bottles are difficult to stack without stabilizing packaging—cans can be stacked easily, saving space and reducing packaging waste.
• Cans provide superior protection against UV light and oxygen contamination.
• Aluminum cans are much cheaper to transport and require less fuel when compared to glass bottles.
Aluminum vs. Glass: Which Is Better for Shipping?
Aluminum cans are a better option than glass bottles when it comes to shipping rates by a wide margin. Cans reduce package weight on average by 40% compared to glass bottles, which reduces transportation costs both from the container manufacturer to the brewery and from the brewery to market.
There’s more than one way to increase profit margins—loss reduction is a significant factor. Due to their fragile composition, glass bottles are much more prone to loss due to breakage or other accidents than aluminum. Opaque, light-proof aluminum cans also provide superior protection from the effects of UV light. Aluminum cans reduce spoilage and ensure delivery of a high-quality beverage to the consumer, with all the benefits of its light weight.
A 12-ounce capacity can is considerably lighter than a glass bottle—less than half an ounce for aluminum versus eight ounces for glass—but shipping rates aren’t the only savings in this scenario. The lighter weight means much less energy is used to transport beverages in aluminum cans, making their carbon footprint much smaller than other alternatives. In fact, aluminum cans result in significantly less greenhouse gas emissions during their lifetime than either glass or plastic containers.
Aluminum: Eco-Friendly, Efficient, and Profitable
A beverage will travel from the brewery or canning facility where it is packaged to warehouses or distribution facilities where it will be stored before eventual transport to the point of sale. Because of their high stackability, aluminum cans reduce shipping costs and costs associated with warehousing.
Fewer labor hours are needed to load and unload pallets of canned beverages compared to glass bottles, which also reduces the amount of consumed energy. The same is true on the front end, where retailers can store and move canned beverages more easily and efficiently.
The benefits of cans over glass bottles or plastic alternatives are evident. Cans are more cost-effective, better for the environment, have increased ease of handling—and are more widely preferred by the consumer.
Calgary, Alberta-based Cask Canning outlines their requirements for canning kombucha:
Kombucha is the new super beverage getting squeezed into aluminum cans — and for good reasons. The amazing can provides maximum portability and environmental benefits that are aligned with Kombucha’s target market.
The Power of Cans & Kombucha
Pre-Package Planning for Kombucha
Technical Requirements for Kombucha Canning
This April 2019 roundtable discussion hosted by The Kombucha Hunter featured seven brands that make the case for cans.
It featured:
Notable comments:
Hard kombucha maker Flying Embers posted May 2024 update on Canned Kombucha & Why Canned Is Better:
Portland, Oregon-based Lion Heart Kombucha posted a list of reasons they chose cans over bottles to Instagram:
A paid placement by the Can Makers Committee in The Grocer (Oct 2, 2024) is titled ‘How beverage cans enable optimum differentiation and shelf-standout‘.
Mun Ferments, Spain, posted on Instagram:
Los Angeles based Better Booch makes the case for cans:
Hard Kombucha brand Boochcraft posted on Making the Transition from Bottles to Cans
To Can or Not to Can?
That is the question. Taking a stroll through the grocery store, you’ll likely find kombucha packaged in various ways. Bottles, cans, plastic…you name it. Traditionally, kombucha is poured into glass bottles after fermentation, so what led to us transitioning from glass bottles to cans? Well, there’s quite a few reasons.
Why Canned Kombucha is a Better Option
For the Planet
As a certified B-Corporation, Boochcraft is always on a mission to “Do Better” for both people and the planet. Aluminum is one of the most commonly recycled materials, even more so than glass, with over 35 million cans being recycled each week. They are also incredibly easy to make (with cans often made of almost 70% recycled material already). Aluminum can be recycled indefinitely, using 90% less energy than recycling a glass bottle. With such a quick turnaround time, your discarded Boochcraft can can be back on the shelves in just a few months, without ever hitting a landfill. Aluminum cans also weigh much less than glass bottles and require less packaging. This reduces our environmental impact by using less material to keep bottles from breaking and less energy to transport Boochcraft from one place to another. You won’t find any plastic rings here; we neatly package our Booch in recyclable paper boxes.
For Your Convenience
Glass bottles, however pretty, are not always as functional. We like to bring our Booch with us, and for safety reasons, glass bottles often aren’t allowed. On top of that, they’re heavy, clunky and delicate…nobody wants a broken bottle to ruin their day (and waste that precious Booch).
References: https://www.euronews.com/green/2019/07/17/glass-bottles-vs-aluminium-cans-which-are-better-for-the-environment
Longmount, Colorado-based CanSource (“The leading provider of cans and custom packaging solutions for the full spectrum of craft beverage makers.”) posted:
Independence, Ohio-based Millcraft (“With more than 100 years of experience in distribution, we understand exactly what you need to package and brand your craft beverage effectively.”) explains Why the Craft Beverage Industry is Choosing Cans over Bottles
Shipping consultants Gorilla Shipper summarize the advantages and disadvantages of glass and aluminum cans, starting with a brief history of the packaging for beverages in the ancient world:
Non-profits environmental group Econation evaluates cans and bottles, while strongly recommending beverages on tap (my favorite!) as an environmentally friendly solution that uses neither:
Ixchel, the founder of Umani Fermentos shared the reasons they switched from glass to cans in my February 14, 2025 meeting with her:
The potential leaching of aluminum into kombucha sold in cans highlights the concern some have about consuming toxic substances. However, these concerns should be understood in terms of the various sources of aluminum elsewhere plus an appreciation of the effective elimination of aluminum by the human body.
The human body has efficient mechanisms for eliminating excess aluminum:
However, aluminum elimination can be impaired in certain conditions:
References:
[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8767391/
“Healthy subjects under normal situations are able to excrete all absorbed aluminum.”
[2] https://www.chop.edu/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-safety/vaccine-ingredients/aluminum
“most of the aluminum contained in foods passes through the intestine without getting into the bloodstream (less than 1% is absorbed)”
[3] https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/news/aluminium-and-alzheimers/
“…the levels of aluminium most of us are exposed to everyday are considered safe. A healthy individual normally carries between 30-50 mg of aluminium in their body…
…our bodies have evolved efficient ways to get rid of it and keep us safe. Only a very tiny 0.1% of aluminium from our food and drink is absorbed by the gut and enters the bloodstream. In healthy individuals, this is swiftly and efficiently removed by the kidneys and leaves the body in urine.”
[4] https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/165315-overview
“Approximately 95% of an aluminum load becomes bound to transferrin and albumin intravascularly and is then eliminated renally. In healthy subjects, only 0.3% of orally administered aluminum is absorbed via the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and the kidneys effectively eliminate aluminum from the human body. Only when the GI barrier is bypassed, such as by intravenous infusion or in the presence of advanced renal dysfunction, does aluminum have the potential to accumulate.”
[5] https://wwwn.cdc.gov/tsp/phs/phs.aspx?phsid=1076&toxid=34
“An average adult in the United States eats about 7–9 mg of aluminum per day in their food…
…Oral exposure to aluminum is usually not harmful.
…The FDA has determined that aluminum used as food additives and medicinals such as antacids are generally safe.”
[6] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2782734/
“…it should be noted that only at excessive concentrations of aluminium are toxic manifestations seen and, hence aluminium is considered to possess a “low” potential for producing adverse effects.”
Aberdeen, UK-based Raw Culture posted ‘Beyond the Bottle: Why Raw Culture Kombucha Championed the Can Revolution‘
At Raw Culture, we’re not only passionate about crafting gut-friendly kombucha with the finest ingredients, but also about making conscious choices that benefit our consumers and the planet. That’s why, unlike many kombucha brands, you won’t find our bubbly goodness nestled in glass bottles. Instead, we proudly embrace the humble but mighty can, and here’s why:
Cans: Champions of Resilience
From bustling city streets to remote mountain trails, Raw Culture kombucha is meant to accompany your adventures. Traditional glass bottles, however, come with inherent fragility. We believe your kombucha journey shouldn’t be marred by accidental shatters or inconvenient leakages. By choosing cans, we ensure your Raw Culture fix arrives safe and sound, no matter the terrain.
Lightweight Leaders: Embracing Eco-Efficiency
Glass bottles come with a not-so-secret burden: weight. This translates to hefty emissions during transportation, a burden on your backpack, and increased strain on our planet’s resources. Raw Culture cans, on the other hand, are featherweights compared to their glass counterparts. This translates to significantly reduced carbon footprint during shipping, a lighter load for you, and a smaller environmental impact – a win-win for your body and the planet.
Protecting Precious Bubbles: A Fortress of Flavor
The delicate dance of flavors and vibrant fizz in Raw Culture kombucha requires a protective haven. Aluminum cans offer exceptional barrier properties, shielding your kombucha from light, oxygen, and other environmental factors that can compromise its taste and potency. This ensures that every sip is as fresh and flavorful as the day it was brewed, delivering the full Raw Culture experience, every time.
Recycling Royalty: Aluminum’s Sustainable Reign
While both glass and aluminum can be recycled, the crown for sustainability goes to the can. Aluminum boasts an impressive 70% recycling rate, one of the highest of any packaging material. Additionally, recycling aluminum requires significantly less energy compared to glass, further minimizing environmental impact. By choosing Raw Culture cans, you’re not just enjoying a delicious beverage, you’re participating in a cycle of responsibility, one sip at a time.
A Conscious Choice, a Brighter Future
Our commitment to cans goes beyond practicality; it’s a deliberate choice for a healthier planet and a more sustainable future. By embracing cans, we minimize breakage, lighten our carbon footprint, protect the deliciousness within, and champion recyclable packaging. So, raise a can of Raw Culture kombucha – to conscious choices, vibrant flavors, and a future where sustainability bubbles over with every sip.
Andrew from Nunc responded to the March 3, 2025 post by Gary Leigh. He includes references to scientific studies on sources of aluminum from soft drinks and children’s toys.
BH Jamison, the Head of Marketing at Cask Global Canning Solutions, Calgary, AB, Canada shared details from a KBI Panel held April 2021.
Canning Kombucha is a Proven, Scalable and Sustainable Choice
The concerns raised about Kombucha in cans stem largely from misunderstandings around liner technology and cold chain management. With the right can supplier, Kombucha brewers can ensure safety, stability, and sustainability.
Key Takeaways:
• Ball’s BPANI Gen 2 liners are tested and designed for Kombucha’s acidity.
• Ball offers free product testing and warranties, ensuring safe compatibility.
• Shelf life depends on pasteurization and handling, not the packaging itself.
1. Proven Safety: Advanced Can Liners Designed for Kombucha
A common concern is whether aluminum cans can safely hold Kombucha without corrosion or product integrity issues. The key here is liner technology and testing.
Ball Corporation’s BPANI Gen 2 Liners
• These are California Prop 65-certified and specifically designed for acidic beverages like Kombucha, sour beers, and hard seltzers.
• Ball provides rigorous lab testing to confirm liner compatibility before full-scale production, ensuring product safety.
• Unlike other manufacturers, Ball warranties both their cans and lid ends when they pass testing—an extra layer of assurance for brewers.
We work with over 30 Kombucha brewers worldwide, including Hip Pop and Equinox, that have successfully scaled using aluminum cans, reinforcing their safety and reliability.
2. Shelf Stability & Cold Chain Considerations
Kombucha makers have different goals when it comes to shelf life and distribution. Aluminum cans accommodate both pasteurized and unpasteurized products with proper storage and handling:
Pasteurized Kombucha
• Has near-infinite shelf stability and does not require cold storage.
• Some brewers add SCOBY or live cultures post-pasteurization to maintain probiotic benefits.
Unpasteurized Kombucha
• Typically has a 3-6 month shelf life and remains stable if kept cold.
• Proper handling prevents secondary fermentation and pressure buildup.
Regardless of packaging, all unpasteurized Kombucha must be kept cold—this isn’t unique to cans. Many brands use on-pack messaging to educate consumers about proper storage.
3. Sustainability & Logistics: Cans Offer Clear Advantages
For Kombucha brands focused on scalability and sustainability, aluminum cans provide significant benefits over glass and plastic:
Aluminum is the most recycled beverage package in the world
• Infinitely recyclable (unlike plastic, which degrades).
• Lightweight, reducing freight emissions compared to glass.
• 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today.
Cans Improve Distribution Efficiency
• More durable than glass, reducing breakage and loss.
• Preferred by retailers due to stackability and space efficiency.
• Faster to cool, lowering refrigeration costs across the supply chain.
Many Kombucha brands transitioning from glass to cans cite lower shipping costs, reduced breakage, and increased retail acceptance.
VISY Packaging, Victoria, Australia, have a useful document outlined their tests for aluminum cans. (Thanks to James from Two Boys Brew for this.)
Background
The beverage market is constantly changing, with manufacturers of beverages creating many varied flavours and mixtures. This has recently been most apparent in the growth in popularity of RTD alcoholic beverage mixes as well as energy drinks and seltzers. These drinks often contain added compounds meaning these blends can be more corrosive than the standard carbonated beverage.
The customer and Visy need to be aware of the corrosiveness of a new beverage being supplied in order to determine whether the customer’s current can specification (especially that for the internal coating) is suitable to hold the new blend. If an unsuitable specification is used this could potentially result in a significant loss of product and/or a recall, which is a situation that everyone wants to avoid.
Bench Testing
Therefore, at the presentation of a new blend/beverage, Visy has introduced an indicative semi analytical qualitative test to assess the likely suitability of the can in light of the aggressiveness of the new beverage. This is referred to as ‘bench-testing’ and should be conducted prior to any commercial filling taking place. To conduct this test, Visy requires a sample of approx 3L of the beverage – preferably within a glass container together with the required information (see below). A very aggressive beverage may cause the can to perforate over the test period; if the rate of deterioration/perforation is within a specified time-frame then the can will be considered as likely to be suitable for the provided beverage. The results of this test can then be shared with the customer in order to make a decision as to final can specifications.
In addition, Visy offers a test-packing service whereby filled cans are stored at elevated temperatures to more quickly simulate the effect of an extended shelf life on both the can and the beverage within. In Visy’s view this process is currently the most useful accelerated testing process for shelf life, but still requires a period of 3 months. The controlled exposure to an elevated temperature over this period simulates a 12 month shelf life under more normal conditions. To conduct this test, please supply 2 cartons of the filled cans as soon as possible following filling.
Bench Testing Process
The test simply evaluates the corrosion rate of the beverage with aluminium [and internal coatings], and compares this to the rate observed for beverages that have been successfully packaged in cans and released into the market. As a general overview:
Interpretation of the Bench Test
High aluminium levels are an indication that the liquid is likely to be more aggressive
We trust the above provides some useful background and context in relation to the Visy bench testing process. Please contact your nominated Visy Beverage Can representative to organise testing.
Crindling Limited (UK) commented on Instagram in response to Gary Leigh’s March 3 Guest Posting
We chose to use aluminium cans for several reasons. One being the environmental sustainability (light, recycled forever) but also our kombucha is fresh, we only give it 3 months date to ensure the quality. And we carefully measure pH to ensure it is not below our threshold.
I agree lab testing should be done based on pH and time within cans, as well as on the BPA / alternatives however who’s going to fund this? We have lab tests done for shelf life etc fairly regularly and ours are always good.
Fair enough, they’re not testing for leaching chemicals but as a conscientious producer you can only do the best you can. For a study to be practicable it would need to include every possible Can alternative and every variant of kombucha and not be funded by an interested party.