A SUSTAINABLE SIP BUSINESS BRILLIANCE NEED NOT COME AT THE COST OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND BY REMOVING PLASTIC OUT OF PACKAGING, REDUCING THE CARBON IMPACT IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN AND REDUCING THE END-OF-LIFE IMPACT OF PACKAGING, WE CAN HAVE OUR BEER AND DRINK IT TOO, EXPLAINS ADAM PLATTS, SALES DIRECTOR AT DS SMITH PACKAGING UK
E
urope produces over 20 million tonnes of plastic packaging each year and 8 million tonnes of plastic waste enters our oceans
annually, in fact, experts predict that by weight there will be as much plastic as fish by 2050. At DS Smith, we have already developed over 650 designs that replace plastic and have identified areas within supermarkets where a staggering 1.5 million tonnes of plastic could be substituted with more sustainable cardboard alternatives by 2030. sustainably too, especially to remain Indeed, sustainability does not start or
competitive.
stop with packaging – we continually work with our customers to ensure we
For example, one of the UK’s major
design for recyclability, design out waste
retailers has pledged to remove 1 billion
and pollution from the outset of the
pieces of plastic from its stores by the
supply chain and create packaging suited
end of 2020 which meant family-owned
to a circular economy.
brewery, Theakstons, needed to reject
This includes every application in beer
plastic and use 100% recyclable material
and cider packaging for our brewery
in order to obtain a can listing in stores.
customers too.
COMMENT
As such, the 194-year-old company
brewersjournal.info
SUSTAINABILITY AND BEER
adapted to the times and declined plastic can high-cones in favour of DS Smith’s
We recently partnered with world leading
100% recyclable can topper for its world
consumer research company Ipsos
famous Old Perculier ale, with over 1
MORI to explore consumer attitudes
million cans expected to be sold by one
towards sustainable packaging since the
major retailer each year.
Covid-19 pandemic – 85% of consumers
As a key collaborative partner, DS Smith
want to buy products which-use ‘as little
delivered from brief to production in just
packaging as possible’ and 43% feeling
6 weeks worked with brand designers
guilty about ordering items online which
to ensure a distinctive 100% coverage of
arrive with too much or unsustainable
black ink matched the Theakston’s Old
packaging.
Peculier can – a key design element that
The results are clear: those brands
captured the history and feel of a much
and retailers who place importance on
beloved brewery.
sustainable packaging now, will reap the rewards in the future.
MOVING THE BEER
And, supermarkets and breweries are
A typical product journey has to survive
taking note of this public attitude. With
up to 50 touch points and we help
Europe consuming 20% of the world’s
breweries of all sizes to protect products
beer the beer market is expected to
at each touchpoint in the journey as
grow 9.4% annually, businesses large and
sustainably as possible.
small need to ensure they’re growing
Using technology that protects against
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