· The trial is being run in partnership with glass bottle supplier, Encirc and uses 100% biofuel and increases recycled content of glass bottles to 100% while maintaining quality
· 1 million beer bottles have been manufactured for CMBC’s Carlsberg Danish Pilsner brand, to go into circulation in the UK
· The carbon impact of each bottle is cut by up to 90%, with potential to transform the bottle from the highest-carbon-impact packaging type to the lowest
· As part of the Glass Futures industry initiative, the trial will feed into UK Government policy through the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Energy Innovation Programme
The glass furnace was switched to run on biogas – a renewable fuel made from waste organic materials – with far lower carbon emissions than the natural gas it replaces. At the same time, recycled content of the glass was increased up to 100%, exceeding initial expectations.
Glass bottles account for around 10% of the total beer-in-hand emissions (the full value chain) for Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company. This trial has significant potential to support the brewer’s target to cut emissions across its value chain as part of Carlsberg Group’s Together Towards ZERO programme.
This is the latest in a series of innovations to cut the carbon impact of packaging across Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company. In 2019, on the relaunch of Carlsberg Danish Pilsner in the UK, the bottles were redesigned to make them 10 grams lighter than the ones they replaced, saving over 130 tonnes of glass in the first year alone.
Carlsberg Group has also been recognised for its action on climate change with a place on the prestigious CDP A list, and for its work in engaging with suppliers to tackle climate change through the 2020 Supplier Engagement Leader board.
Sam Brakes, Senior Procurement Manager, Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company, comments: “We can only achieve our ambitious targets by working together with innovative suppliers like Encirc. This trial has huge potential, transforming glass from the highest carbon impact packaging format to the lowest. We’re proud to be working with pioneers in the industry, contributing to the development of a low-carbon future, and going Together Towards ZERO.”
Mark Comline, Senior Category Director Group Packaging Materials, Carlsberg Group, adds: “We are delighted this ground-breaking trial has successfully proven and produced ultra-low carbon Carlsberg glass beer bottles. Across Carlsberg we are inspired to work together towards a zero-carbon future. Trials like this in partnership with Encirc are a massive leap towards making it a reality.”
Adrian Curry, Managing Director at Encirc commented: “This is a truly momentous occasion for glass. We have set the standard globally with this trial and now the glass industry needs to work towards realising what we’ve proved is possible. We now know that glass can be the most sustainable of all packaging types and must all work together to ensure that happens.”
ENDS
Links:
Sustainability at Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company: carlsbergmarstons.co.uk/sustainability/sustainability
Sustainability at Carlsberg Group: carlsberggroup.com/sustainability
Encirc: encirc360.com
About Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company
Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company is one of the newest, historic brewers in the UK. Formed out of a joint venture between Carlsberg UK and Marston’s PLC, who are both shareholders, the brewer combines over 300 years of shared values, history and heritage in UK brewing.
The brewer provides its customers and consumers with an unrivalled portfolio of lagers, ales and craft beer brands from the very best of two master brewing teams, plus those under license from valued partners. These include lagers such as Carlsberg Danish Pilsner, Carlsberg Expørt and Poretti; premium cask and packaged ales, including Hobgoblin, Marston’s Pedigree, Tetley’s, Wainwright and 61 Deep; brands under license including San Miguel, Mahou, Estrella Damm, Shipyard, Erdinger, Warsteiner and Kirin; a broad selection of alcohol-free beers; plus distribution of the Brooklyn Brewery and London Fields Brewery craft portfolios.
Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company also owns and operates a brewery and distribution network across the UK, including the Carlsberg brewery in Northampton; London Fields in Hackney; Marston’s in Burton upon Trent; Banks’s in Wolverhampton; Wychwood in Witney, Oxfordshire; Jennings in Cockermouth, Cumbria; Ringwood in Hampshire; and Eagle in Bedford; plus a National Distribution Centre in Northampton and 11 UK-wide distribution depots.
Find out more at www.carlsbergmarstons.co.uk
About the Carlsberg Group’s sustainability programme, Together Towards ZERO
Together Towards ZERO is the Carlsberg Group’s vision for a better tomorrow at a time of serious challenges such as climate change, water scarcity and public health concerns. It consists of four ambitions: ZERO carbon footprint, ZERO water waste, ZERO irresponsible drinking and a ZERO accidents culture. Each of these is underpinned by individual measurable targets to be achieved by 2022 and 2030. This includes targets to halve water use at our breweries globally by 2030 and to develop partnerships to protect shared water resources. Find out more at carlsberggroup.com/sustainability
About Encirc
Encirc, part of the Vidrala group, is a market leader in glass container design, manufacturing, bottling and logistics solutions for the UK, Irish and European food and beverages industries.
With over 1,500 employees, it operates from its three purpose-built sites in Derrylin, Co Fermanagh, Elton, Cheshire and Corsico, Italy, the company produces more than 3 billion glass bottles and other containers annually, and can fill up to 250 million litres of bulk shipped beverages every year.
The integrated group offering means customers benefit from a unique supply chain approach, which includes access to Europe’s largest bonded warehouse, significantly shortening the supply chain and delivering considerable cost and environmental savings to customers.
About Glass Futures (www.glass-futures.org)
Glass Futures Ltd is a not-for-profit Research and Technology Organisation connecting the glass industry and academia to create a Centre of Excellence in glass comprising R&D, innovation, training and up-skilling. Central to the proposition is a demonstration-scale glass making facility of 30 tonnes per day capacity.
Glass Futures operates a membership model open to like-minded organisations to work alongside some of the world’s largest glass manufacturers, supply-chain partners, brands and academic institutions collaborating to deliver net-zero to the glass industry.
For more information visit www.glass-futures.org.
Press release from Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company
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Kathrine Nielsen, PR & Communications Executive:
Tel: 07544 657 632
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Lucy Wright at Golin:
Email: CMBC@golin.com
Tel: 07909006935
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