News

A PET bottle is the most environmentally friendly format for beer brewed and bottled in Belgium and disposed of in the UK, according to new research from packaging firm Sidel.

The life cycle analysis (LCA), presented at this week's Brau Beviale show in Nuremberg, Germany, compared the environmental impact of non-returnable glass bottles, aluminium and steel cans and PET bottles on a range of factors.

It found that the environmental performance of PET was comparable to steel, but concluded that a half-litre PET bottle that weighed 20g or less was "the preferred overall choice in terms of climate change".

In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, steel was found to be the best option, followed by PET.

Luc Dusoutter, Sidel sustainability officer, said the report had shown that beer production and primary packaging had the biggest environmental impact, making recycling rates a key factor on material selection.

"Where aluminium recycling rates are high, for example, aluminium may be a good choice for packaging beer," he added, recognising the research was based on specific criteria. "

The LCA took data from Martens Breweries and was collected by research firm RDC-Environment on behalf of Sidel. Sidel has developed a tool that firms can use to assess the impact of their own production and disposal routes.

The firm maintained, however, that the results of the study would not mean it would be abandoning other materials in favour of PET. "We will continue to develop products across the board," said Marcel Krauth, head of Sidel's beer division.

The report can be downloaded from the Sidel website by clicking here.

Also at the Brau Beviale show, which closes today (14 November) at the Messe Nürnberg, can maker Ball Packaging revealed its Pure Brand End, which is a 10-colour printable foil that can be added to the can end using hot wax.

German brewer Ankerbräu displayed its BeerInBox container for shipping draught beer in a bag inside a cardboard box. Removing the carbon dioxide from the beer and then adding it upon serving, without any loss of quality, reduces the footprint of the box.

Among the other packaging firms at the show were Ardagh Glass, Rexam and O-I.