Guido Klinkhammer, business unit sales director at Schaefer, which provides stainless steel kegs, said a drive towards sustainability, and legislation that could see one-way plastic products banned by the EU, as key drivers in this shift.

“Though PET kegs do have their benefits, their use will be considerably reduced over the coming years”, said Klinkhammer.

The director cited that stainless steel kegs as being “much more ecological and economical” thanks to the ability to utilise them for up to 30 years.

He said: “Fortunately, the trend towards sustainability is becoming increasingly prevalent in the beverages industry.

“This is a very desirable and ethically very sensible change of attitude to our overall situation, because single-use products are an enormous burden on the environment.

“This also applies to one-way Kegs, so the ban on one-way plastic products that the EU is now planning may not only affect coffee beakers and plastic forks.

Klinkhammer added: “Ultimately, it is also the higher quality and reliability of stainless steel KEGs that contributes to demand for them. For example, containers up to 50 litres have to withstand at least 60 bar pressure without bursting to conform to DIN 6647-1.

“That’s why, right from the outset, many KEGs are fitted with a safety bursting point that opens at 50 bar and releases excess pressure without any risk. There is no such regulation for one-way containers made of plastic.”