Crush a can day

Today is Crush a can day, a day when we can focus on recycling aluminium cans and do our bit for the environment. This led us to think about the history of the can and boy did we find out a lot about such a humble item we all now take for granted.

The origins of the can can be traced back to 1795 when Napoleon announced a generous reward of 12,000 francs to anyone who could devise a method of preserving perishable food for military and naval purposes. In earlier centuries, ancient civilizations relied on traditional techniques such as salting and drying to preserve their food. However, it was in 1809 that a French confectioner and brewer named Nicolas Appert made a significant breakthrough by developing a method for preserving food in airtight bottles and glass jars.

Following Appert’s achievement, British inventor and merchant Peter Durand took the concept further. In 1810, Durand patented his own technique using tin-coated iron cans, and by 1813, he was supplying substantial quantities of canned food to the Royal Navy. Durand’s contributions are recognized for establishing the foundation of the modern food canning process.

In the United States, Thomas Kensett and Ezra Daggett obtained a patent in 1825 for using tin plates and began selling canned meats, fruits, and vegetables. The can-making industry gradually mechanized during the 1860s, leading to increased efficiency. However, it wasn’t until 1938 that the first canned soft drink, Clicquot Club ginger ale, made its appearance in markets. Subsequently, in 1963, Reynolds Metals Company manufactured aluminium beverage cans that were lighter, rust-resistant, and recyclable. These cans were initially used to package a diet cola called “Slenderella,” popularized by Coca-Cola and Pepsi by 1967.

Although recycling practices were not initially widespread, the first aluminium can recycling plants were operational in Chicago as early as 1904. By 1970, coinciding with the inaugural Earth Day, recycling steel and aluminium cans gained greater popularity and acceptance. The proliferation of buy-back centres, where people could return cans in exchange for money, contributed to the widespread adoption of recycling cans throughout the country.