Page 20 - Beverage Master_DecJan2022
P. 20
Craft Brewery
means the reduction of waste going into landfills,
the reduction of CO2 emissions and the responsi-
bility in using recyclable raw materials when avail-
able,” she said. “We offer our TopClip cardboard
solutions for packaging in 12 and 16 ounce cans
packaged in a four, six or eight-can pack. TopClip is
a Forest Stewardship Council certified, paper-based
packaging option. It offers protection from contam-
ination with complete coverage of the can lid and
customized, easy-to-see branding opportunities.
Additionally, the TopClip offers a more than 30%
carbon footprint reduction over alternatives like
shrink film.”
The downside for craft brewers may be that
TopClip does require specialized application
machines. However, Berdugo said, multiple
machine systems are available depending on can-
ning line speeds and individual brewery’s packaging
needs. Smurfit Kappa works with the beverage pro-
ducer to identify the most efficient and best pack-
aging solution.
“TopClip is an ideal solution for companies that
are purpose-driven to invest in sustainable solu-
tions and avoiding landfill waste,” said Berdugo.
tradeoff when considering suppliers, whether local The Potential For Tax Credits Is Out There
or national,” said Skypeck. “The brewer has to con-
sider the cost of transportation, how far the pack- “We at the Brewers Association provide nation-
aging materials are traveling and the actual ship- wide help,” said Skypeck. “There are 50 state brew-
ping costs for their packaging choices. If you want er’s guilds for craft brewers to turn to for the local
to use recyclable containers, know the recycling support they need, including sustainability guide-
rates for that packaging choice, as well as the recy- lines. Along with developing resources and provid-
cling rates for your community. There is a current ing safety, sustainability, and quality development
bill in Congress, [The CLEAN Future Act], addressing tools, we advocate for craft brewing on the federal
the returnability of bottles for the entire bever- level, helping to get reductions in federal taxes
age industry. But will you get people like those in and working with federal trade bureaus and OSHA
Flint, Michigan, to pay more for [non-carbonated*] regulators. Alcohol law is based on state-level regu-
returnables and recyclables when they can only use lations, so the individual states guide breweries on
bottled water? There are pros and cons to every navigating those laws. But we know that there are
decision, so true sustainability is a process for con- tax credits associated with CO2 capture for large
tinuous improvement, not necessarily a result.” breweries. We are working diligently to get those
same credits available to all of our smaller craft
One example of a 100% plastic-free, fully renew- producers.”
able, recyclable and biodegradable packaging
solution is the TopClip system from Smurfit Kappa. * In current Michigan law, residents pay a 10 cent
Maria Berdugo, Smurfit Kappa’s Innovation & deposit on all carbonated beverages. The CLEAN
Development Manager, told Beverage Master Future Act proposes a national U.S. law that would
require a 10 cent deposit on all carbonated and
Magazine that sustainability is in the company’s uncarbonated drinks in glass, plastic and metal
DNA and is the core of their business. beverage containers with the exception of infant
formula, liquid drugs and meal and caloric replace-
“To us, sustainability in the beverage market ments.
18 December - January 2022 BEVERAGE MASTER
BM1201222 Main Pages.indd 18 11/19/21 1:53 PM
