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Tin containers are considered to be among the most popular packaging materials in the world. These small tin cans are easy and cheap to produce and can be crafted into any color, shape, and design. Although its name might suggest differently, these tins are, in fact, not made from tin. So, what are tin cans made of?

Although empty tins are generally called "Tin Cans", there are almost no modern tins that are produced solely from tin. The main reason why people call these empty cans "Tins" can be dated back to the late 20th century. Back then, cans were created out of tin-plated steel in order to combine the strength and affordability of steel with the corrosion resistance of tin.

The reason why empty cans are not crafted entirely out of tin lies in the fact that tin is, in fact, quite a rare material. Although it is considered to be a "common metal" instead of a "precious metal" like gold or platinum, it is still less available than you may think. In fact, tin may as well be one of the least available "common" metals out there. It is true that in the world there are only a limited number of mines that produce tin. Scientists are even going as far as predicting that, in the future, there will be a high chance that we are running out of tin completely.

Due to the above-stated reasons, it would be extremely expensive and difficult to create anything out of pure tin. This is especially the case for everyday objects such as packaging materials. As of today (August 2017), the price of tin amounts to US$20.61 per kilogram whereas aluminum only costs US$2.1 per kilogram. (LME, 2017) As you can imagine, this major price difference has led to the fact that manufacturers rather produce their tins out of different metals. Most empty cans that are nowadays produced are either made out of aluminum or another cheap alloy.

This essential adaptability of plastic quality means that higher density, hard-wearing plastic can be further resistant against dents, damage and impact. The same is true for chemicals. You will often find plastic buckets and containers used in industries such as catering, agricultural, construction and health – whether for mixing, or storing, chemicals – because the material is impervious to so many different chemicals.

Finally, of course, are issues of the environment and economy. Plastic can be a very reasonable material, price-wise, which gives you the option to choose the right container – or series of containers – to suit your needs and as the material is so cost-effective, we are able to pass on these savings to our own customers. As regards the environment, plastic is actually much lighter than metal, for instance, which can lead to much better fuel economy, when containers are used in transportation.

So, for all these reasons, plastic has been the material for both the 20th Century, the 21st Century…