Sonoco Products Company

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Paper Containers with Metal Closures

Protect your products from damage and add consumer appeal with versatile paper tube packaging.

Premium Packaging with Added Benefits

Known as spiral wound containers, cardboard cans and paperboard canisters, our paper containers with steel are loaded with features that make them the perfect choice for a wide variety of packaging applications. Paper containers with steel are a sustainable packaging option that combines product protection with shelf appeal and consumer convenience.

Environmentally Friendly Packaging

The design of the container allows it to be recycled in the steel stream in the United States. It is also eligible for the relevant recycling label in Canada and has several recycling options throughout Europe. The paper container’s body is made of 100% recycled fiber, of which 90% comes from post-consumer resources.

Versatile Tube Packaging for Any Market

Paper cans offer a wide range of styles, sizes and closures, along with customizable branding and labeling. They are ideal for food and beverage, powdered infant formula, pet food, health and beauty, automotive, construction and many other industrial and retail applications.

Airtight Packaging for Barrier Applications

Paper tube containers can be hermetically sealed, for high altitude distribution and environmental elements, preventing the passage of air and gases to keep contents fresh for longer.

Robust and Lightweight

Paper tubes offer durability and rigidity, while the steel ends provide added structural strength. This ensures your package can withstand handling, stacking and external pressure without compromising the contents.

Paper Tubes Formed to Protect Your Product

Engineered and manufactured for durability & product protection, a paper tube with steel includes:

Can Body: Layers of 100% recycled paper board are wound and bonded together to form a solid and stable tube.
Top of Can: The top closure is a metal, plastic or paper membrane with features such as pull tabs, pour spouts, shaker lids, valves and safety shields. These are often topped with a plastic, resealable overcap.
Metal Bottom: The end closure provides strength and durability and is customizable based on the product requirements.

Watch how Rigid Paper Containers Come Together

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Paper Packaging: A Natural Fit

Paper Can Sizes

From convenient on-the-go snack containers to bulk industrial packages, paper tubes come in a variety of sizes to showcase and carry your product:

Diameters: Range from 1 to 6 inches
Heights: Between 1.25 and 12 inches
Custom sizing also available

Graphics

Various labeling options available with multiple material substrates and printing styles for dynamic shelf appeal.

Explore Ends & Closures

Advanced Barrier Solutions for Added Protection

Providing up to 18 months of shelf life, paper, foil and film barriers can be added to protect the contents from moisture, oxygen, grease/oil, aromas, light, gas and temperature.

Sustainable Paper Packaging from Top to Bottom

The paperboard in the container’s body is made of 100% recycled fiber, of which 90% comes from post-consumer resources being accepted in both the steel and fiber waste streams. Paper cans with steel are an environmentally responsible packaging choice.

Advantages of Steel Stream

Recycling a Paper Container with Steel Bottom has 23.5% lower global warming potential when compared to landfilling steel. It decreases the need to mine for virgin iron ore.

Additional Resources

As with any recyclable packaging, certain label requirements are recommended to ensure consumers know how to prepare items for curbside pickup. Visit these websites for additional information:

Sustainability Benefits: Paper Container with Metal Closures

Use of Recycled Fiber
Consumer-friendly Recycling
Curbside Collection
Converting
Circularity

Use of Recycled Fiber

Sonoco makes our rigid paper containers with up to 90% recycled fiber. Not only does that help reduce our reliance on virgin fiber content, it also strengthens the viability of recycled fiber, helping to ensure the market demand and availability of recycled content for years to come.

Consumer-friendly Recycling

Our rigid paper cans are easy for consumers to recycle. Simply remove the plastic lid, empty, and place it into the recycling bin. Most U.S. recycling programs offer “single stream” or “mixed” collection meaning no need for the consumer to sort, and no need for the consumer to separate the steel ends from the paper tube. Now that’s easy! Learn what makes a package recyclable.

Curbside Collection

Compatible with mixed or steel recycling streams, our paper containers with steel are "curbside collectable," meaning municipalities with paper can recycling programs can easily collect them. More than 99% of the metal is recaptured.

Converting

Recycled steel materials are converted into sheets, and when fiber from the can body is recovered, this gets converted into paperboard. In some cases, the recovered fiber is sent to a specialized paper mill that extends the pulping process so the recycled fiber can be used in a wider range of applications.

Circularity

Not only are Sonoco rigid paper cans made with recycled fiber, by being easily recyclable and compatible with the current recycling infrastructure, they are one of the most circular, sustainable types of packaging available in the market today.

Download this infographic to see how it all comes together