In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes  Predrag Ozmo to discuss the sustainability story behind Ball Corporation — the world's largest aluminum packaging manufacturer, producing more than 100 billion cans per year. Predrag shares his background growing up in Serbia and his early career at MiTeCo, a hazardous waste management company specializing in chemical, pharmaceutical, and PCB waste, before moving to Inos Balkan (part of the Greek Anamet group), a metal recycling company, and then joining Ball in 2019. He explains why aluminum is often called an "energy bank" — a truly circular material that can be recycled endlessly, with up to 95% energy savings versus primary production. Predrag walks through Ball's climate transition plan and its 2030 and 2050 goals, the decarbonization pathways for primary aluminum (hydropower, inert anodes, and the ELYSIS breakthrough), the growing importance of recycled content, and the innovative partnerships that are bringing refillable and first-of-their-kind aluminum packaging to market. Key Topics Discussed:Predrag's journey from metal recycling at MiTeCo in Serbia to sustainability leadership at Ball CorporationBall Corporation's scale as the world's largest aluminum packaging manufacturer (100+ billion cans per year)Aluminum as a circular, infinitely recyclable "energy bank" materialThe 95% energy savings achieved when aluminum is recycled versus primary productionBall's climate transition plan and 2030 / 2050 sustainability goalsDecarbonization of primary aluminum through hydropower, inert anodes, and the ELYSIS technologyThe role of recycled content in reducing packaging's carbon footprintBall's partnership with Meadow for refillable soap and shampoo in aluminum bottlesBrazil partnership with Sofie and Aeroflaks on the first ASI-certified aluminum aerosol canUnilever and Alcoa's ELYSIS pilot as a model for low-carbon primary metalThe 10–15 year vision for aluminum packaging and the circular economyWhy aluminum's infinite recyclability makes it a long-term sustainability winnerResources Mentioned:Ball CorporationELYSISAluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI)Meadow (refillable aluminum personal care packaging)Contact:Listeners can learn more or reach out to Predrag directly:LinkedInBall CorporationThank you for tuning in to Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors!Support our Sponsors Learn more here:- 3M- Specright- Forest Connect with CoryConnect with Cory on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-connors/I'm here to help you make your packaging more sustainable! Reach out today and I'll get back to you asap. This podcast is an independent production and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2022.