Ball, Dabur launch Réal Bites in recyclable cans

Ball Corporation announced its partnership with Dabur India to expand its Réal juice portfolio by launching the new Réal Bites in fully recyclable aluminium cans in India. Réal Bites juice offers a unique drinking experience with real fruit chunks in every sip.

Speaking about the packaging partnership between Ball and Dabur India, Manish Joshi, commercial director Asia at Ball said, “As consumers shift to healthy beverages and prefer on-the-go consumption, can as a packaging substrate is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12% from 2023 to 2028 in the juice-based category.”

He added, “Ball’s 2-piece aluminium beverage cans are fully recyclable and come in varied sizes to meet the customer requirements. Ball’s cans help our customers achieve their sustainability goals while offering a 360-degree branding opportunity and varied innovation in the print.”

The juice category in India recorded strong double-digit growth in 2023, owing to rising consumer affinity for healthy beverages amid growing health concerns. The 185ml can was introduced as an entry point for this segment, offering a convenient size for on-the-go consumption. The new aluminium cans provide a shelf life of up to one year, significantly longer than the four to nine months offered by other packaging formats. 

Commenting on the launch, Mayank Kumar, vice president of marketing at Dabur India, said, "We are excited to offer our customers the same great taste in a format that is both convenient and fully recyclable."

The partnership between Ball and Dabur comes at a time when sustainability is more important than ever to consumers, who expect brands to offer products in sustainable packaging. The growing recognition of aluminium beverage cans as a sustainable packaging option is expected to continue and expand, aligning with the Indian government's target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.