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An alliance of packaging firms aims to ramp up production of the recyclable, single-use, plastic KeyKeg beer keg after research found it performed as well as a steel keg in tests to assess taste and carbon dioxide loss.

Munich University of Technology (TU Munich) tested two types of kegs - the KeyKeg and a steel keg - containing beer brands from the Weihenstephan Bayerische Staatsbrauerei. After four months both types of keg were intact, fully functional and there was no difference in taste and carbon dioxide loss.

TU Munich also exposed the kegs to varying temperatures and again there was no difference in taste and the amount of CO2 loss was negligible.

The KeyKeg has been developed by a consortium of packaging machinery and materials firms, including Schoeller Arca Systems (production assembly and stock holding), Scholle Packaging (inner bag assembly), SIPA (blow moulding machinery and tooling), M+F KEG-Technik (filling machines), DSI (dispensing systems) and Lightweight Containers (sales and marketing).

Lightweight Containers spokesman Robbert-Jan Knoppers said the consortium planned to set up three new production lines in Barcelona, Spain, Harderberg in the Netherlands, and Mannheim in Germany. Each line will have a capacity of 1.8 million KeyKegs per year.

It is currently produced in Schwerin, Germany, in quantities of 1.8 million per year.

The KeyKeg, launched in 2006, is being tested by producers of carbonated drinks such as beer and wine and Knoppers said orders had been placed, but he was unable to name the producers.

"The KeyKeg is made from PET with an inner bag of different layers of PE depending on the type of carbonated drink it contains," he said.

It is available in capacities of 20 and 30 litres.

The 20-litre KeyKeg weighs 1kg empty, compared with about 8kg for an equivalent steel keg, which means more beer can be transported per truckload, added Knoppers.