Delivering the circular economy

Cradle to cradle | Businesses around the world are under pressure to operate as sustainably as possible and the global brewing industry is no exception. Understandably, the use of packaging is under the spotlight in terms of supply chain benefits, product protection and with the rise in consumer environmental awareness the packaging end of life and re-use. Reduction in the use of plastics, recycling, was the aim a few years ago but now business models need to move towards a full circular evidenced lifecycle solution.

Optima | Optima do Brasil has entered into a partnership with the Brazilian mechanical engineering company Quality Machines based in Campinas.

Growing network | OneCircle, global supplier of PET kegs, is expanding its European footprint with the appointment of a new official reseller of KeyKeg and UniKeg in Spain – Bruni Glass Iberia.

Ardagh | A unique ‘ribbed’ can which keeps Jupiler beer cool in the hand has won ‘Best Can/Alubottle’ at the 2019 World Beverage Innovation Awards.

Brewing in the Arctic: gloriously glacial gratification

Canning line | When it comes to brewing, the Mack Brewery in Norway has long since been putting its trust in Krones’ technology, most recently for canning as well. This means the Bavarian plant engineering specialist is handling the brewery’s core remit, since cans account for over 90 per cent of total beer sales.

Sustainability | OneCircle, Den Helder, Netherlands, formerly known as Lightweight Containers, has produced a version of its 30l KeyKeg with an overall recycled material content of 58%.

Stainless steel kegs as single-use containers for beverages

Draft beer market | The market for beverage containers in gastronomy has been in transition for a number of years. Changing consumer habits and new innovative beverages require a different perspective and a departure from the old ways of thinking, especially on the part of established beverage producers. WorldKeg stands for no-deposit, single-use stainless steel kegs – a new alternative to conventional beverage containers.

Crown Holdings | According to a press release dated 16 September 2019, the provider of packaging products has officially committed to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a project that aims to transition companies into a low-carbon economy by helping them set specific goals to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Lightweight Containers | KeyKeg is expanding its European footprint with the appointment of two new official resellers of KeyKeg and UniKeg – Apiglass in Spain and SwedBeer.se in Sweden. These appointments complement the firm’s global network of warehouses and reduces the supply chain, helping minimise CO2 footprint and save on logistics and response times.

Germany | Krones is facing strong headwinds. Counter-measures, introduced in July this year, included a hiring freeze and cuts to material costs. But on 17 September 2019 Krones announced that there will be redundancies. Up to 400 jobs could be lost.