Closing the Loop (Part 3): Circularity in Drinks Production – Beyond the Bottle
Over the past few weeks, together we've explored the fundamentals of the circular economy, then delved into the most discussed area of conversation: packaging – first with reuse and refill systems with practical, live examples, and then by examining smart design for maximising the recyclability of glass and aluminium. These are vital steps, but a truly circular approach for the drinks industry extends far beyond fancy packaging.
Today, we look inward, to within the walls of our breweries, distilleries, and wineries to uncover how these circular principles can transform production, turning potential waste streams into valuable resources and managing our most precious natural capital: water.
The Future of Drinks Packaging
The packaging that drinks brands come in presents a significant sustainability challenge and a massive creative opportunity. Glass, plastic, aluminium, and composite materials each have their own distinct pros and cons in regards to their environmental impacts and their supporters. The industry must move beyond debates over which is the "best" material, which are clogging up my LinkedIn feed, and race at Usain Bolt speed towards practical, systemic improvements in materials, design, and end of life solutions.
We simply have to do everything, everywhere, all at once.
Understanding EPR
With EPR, DRS, ECGTD, GCD, and probably more, there’s a flood of random collections of letters, also known as acronyms, for drinks producers to get their heads around over the next few years. In our last post we explored the UK’s upcoming Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and this week we’re looking into Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
The Return of Deposit Return Schemes
After years of debate, the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme (commonly referred to as DRS) has passed through Parliament, with implementation scheduled for October 2027.
What will be included? How much will it cost? And, crucially, how can brands prepare for the changes while keeping costs under control? We thought it would be helpful to break down the details, highlight the challenges, and explore the opportunities the DRS presents for drinks brands.