Building off the movement to reduce the use of plastic straws, the next frontier in environmentally-conscious packaging is the lowly six-pack ring. While many of these fasteners are, in fact, recyclable, only a tiny fraction of them stay out of the landfill.’
Corona beer is the first major brand to switch to biodegradable can holders, piloting the packaging in Mexico this year. Instead of relying on people to recycle they have taken the initiative to go plastic-free as part of their corporate environmental commitment. Other companies such as Carlsberg from Denmark and Florida’s SaltWater Brewery are experimenting with other glue or even edible options to hold the cans together in a pack.
While many people don’t even think about the six-pack ring or the impact they have on the environment, the new holders are estimated to save 1300 tons of plastic/year for SaltWater Brewery alone. With this kind of impact for a microbrewery, think of the difference it would make if Anheuser-Busch made the switch.
Everything about environmental stewardship relies on small, positive steps made repeatedly by many. How can your organization experiment with making a minor change in its packaging or processes to make a contribution to global health?