Background: In the years 2000 and 2002, the German Environment Agency in Berlin (UBA) published the results of a comprehensive LCA study on beverage containers comprising aluminium cans with volumes of 330 ml and 500 ml. Starting with the aluminium can scenarios and the respective results obtained during the UBA study, additional analyses were performed by IFEU in 2003, a German consultant having been a member of the project team working on the UBA study. The objective was to examine the influence of selected parameters on the LCA profile of carbonated soft drink containers. Data and method were in complete analogy with the LCI and LCA part of the UBA study. Materials: In 2006, the aluminium industry commissioned a study on further influential factors that help determine the sale of certain types of beer, studying the effects of two selected parameter settings on the comparative results of the aluminium can against the refillable glass bottle. In this scenario, special attention was given to two influential factors, the distribution distance-distinguished by regional and nationwide distribution-and trippage rate. Results and discussion: The results of the initial LCA from the years 2000 and 2002 showed, for the examined parameters container weight, rate of post-consumer recovery of used containers, degree of recycled content and quality of the recycling routes, that each had a considerable influence on the environmental impact profile of the aluminium can within the given framework. Can weight and recycling rate were sensitive factors in the impact categories of climate change, fossil resources, summer smog (POCP), acidification and terrestrial eutrophication. Can volume affected virtually all impact categories examined. Conclusions: By now, individual improvement options have already been put into practice in Germany. The environmental profile of the average 330 ml aluminium can on the German market can be expected to be ahead of that of the aluminium can at the time of the UBA study. The introduction of a 500-ml can on the market denotes a fundamental step forward in improving LCA results of the aluminium can as a container for beverages. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.
