A look at recycling (and removing) plastics in the beer industry

Recycling plastics and other products is becoming more popular in businesses. As part of this, many large beer companies are finding new ways to be more eco-friendly and alter their distribution of products. Some breweries are finding new ways to reuse their plastics that they utilize in packaging and are also exploring other eco-friendly options.

Here are a few of the unique solutions we have seen.

Carlsberg Group

Carlsberg Group is one of the leading brewers in the world today. Their large array of beer and beverage products are sold in 150 different markets. Carlsberg Group is producing prototypes for a “paper bottle” with their beer. In an effort to become a more eco-friendly business, the prototype for their bottle uses recycled polyethylene terephthalate. This polymer barrier acts as the lining in the bottle. 

Carlsberg is titling this the “Green Fibre Bottle,” and it’s sustainably sourced from wood fibers. The company’s goal with this bottle is to encourage a breakthrough in the industry of keeping materials fully recyclable.

East End Brewing recycling can carriers

East End Brewing Co. is a Pittsburgh brewer selling local beer since 2004. They are a pub that also distributes kegs, cans and giant bottles. The Pittsburgh City Paper states the East End Brewing is going green and finding new ways to use recycled plastics. They informed their customers about a new installation of bins to collect hard plastic carriers that package their craft beer. Partnering with PakTech, the plastic company grounds up the used carriers and makes new ones. These new carriers are made of 100 percent post-recycled material. 

Other ideas from edible can carriers to stackable cans

A lot of large brewing companies are trying to tackle the issue of the plastic packaging around craft beer. They are searching for creative answers to this problem, and here are some that have devised some options. 

Saltwater Brewery

Saltwater Brewery is a startup company based out of Florida. Their sustainability efforts were in the use of eco-friendly six-pack rings that are actually edible by animals and made of wheat and barley. Check out E6PR here.

Corona

The well-known beer Corona has introduced a new can design that uses no packing materials at all. The Fit Pak design allows for ten cans to stack on top of each other and screw together. By doing so, there is no paper, plastic or cardboard. Check out this video on the new design.

All of Oregon

The Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC) has been administering BottleDrop, a refillable bottle program for area breweries. BottleDrop Refillable bottles are unique glass bottles that can be washed and refilled up to 25 times, making them one of the most sustainable package for craft beverages. The bottles are made locally from recycled glass and are exclusive to the state of Oregon. Each bottle is marked with “BottleDrop Refillable” on the glass as well as the label to make it easy for the consumer to recognize. Once washed and thoroughly inspected, the bottles are re-distributed back to the participating beverage producers.

Tree House Brewing

This Massachusetts brewing company crafts unique IPA’s, stouts and has delicious craft beers. They eliminated plastic packaging altogether as well. Tree House Brewing Company supplies boxes to carry out the purchases. Since they are considered the fourth largest brewery, the reduction of plastic ending up in landfills or waterways is significant. 

The Future

To reduce the environmental load, recycling plastics is essential. Let’s face it, plastic can be so detrimental to our planet and the way that we use and recycle it is vital for the future. According to Phys Org, the bio-derived plastics have been good replacements to petroleum-based ones.  

What needs improvement is the waste collection. Research suggests that there should be an increase in waste collection efforts and a potential plastic tax that excludes recycled plastics. By doing so, this can encourage companies and businesses to use recycled plastics in their products. 

Emma Iammarino works with Shini USA, BV Thermal, and Budzar Industries, leading manufacturers of industrial equipment in Ohio.