BOTTLE MAKING 9 PETplanet Insider Vol. 24 No. 06/23 www.petpla.net aren’t planning to lay down. For value and standard price point wines, which are designed to be enjoyed young, it makes sense for both the producer and consumers to use PET. For the producer, PET is financially attractive compared to other alternative packaging formats as it can run on their existing filling equipment, and for the consumer it gives them flexibility to take a PET bottle where glass can’t go. The carbon credentials of wine in PET bottles can be shared by brands at the point of purchase against glass providing consumers with an informed choice,” said Craig. Single use large kegs: an environmentally friendly solution? Petainer is very well known globally for its beer kegs. The 20 l example on its stand for wine on tap, which Craig and Jake are clearly proud of, is a one-way container, which prompted the question: how is “single use” environmentally friendly? “You have to look at the carbon footprint of draught beverages from cradle to gate,” Craig replied. “In the case of beer kegs, we focus on two main markets: export and smaller, craft brewers. Smaller scale operators prefer not to invest in steel kegs as they grow their business. We make it possible for craft brewers to enter new markets without heavy outlay on kegs, transport and cleaning infrastructure. For export, PET is light weight – nowhere near as heavy as steel and you can transport your beverage anywhere in the world. If you imagine the volume of beer being exported from Europe in steel kegs, the cost of lost kegs, of collecting them, returning, and washing, some export routes can be very inefficient making one way kegs the clear choice. This gives brewers the opportunity to access global markets without the need to manage costly return logistics. We can model the carbon footprint of our kegs vs steel to demonstrate that our kegs really are the climate smart option.” Whilst our Hybrid keg is non-returnable, the chimes at the top and bottom, are made with 100% recycled polypropylene which can be easily removed from the keg and reused. We are seeing a growing number of brewers reusing these components to save cost and reduce their carbon footprint. “The Hybrid keg can be conveyed and filled on steel kegs lines so there is real opportunity for brewers to switch between steel and PET to access new draught markets and save a lot on operating costs. Steel keg losses can be as high as 10 to 15% in some cases,” Jake Mortiboys added. The Hybrid keg can be collected and disassembled for recycling, post use. The snap fit nature of the chime components ensures it’s easy to separate these components and reduce the volume of waste. Bottle to bottle recycling is not yet possible but a closed loop solution for PET kegs is clearly on the horizon. Petainer is working with a major brewing brand to use clear 20 l kegs packed inside a cardboard outer box, which is itself totally recyclable and will give the required UV & light protection. www.petainer.com Over 10,000 drinks industry professionals attended the London Wine Fair in May.
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