A growing emphasis on the environment and a global drive towards using sustainable packaging, has seen an increase in the number of businesses who are seeking alternative packaging solutions in replacement for their current use of plastics, says Suzy Harrold, marketing executive at Saxon Packaging. 

2018 was a very interesting year for the drinks industry. Whilst there were some shortfalls in some areas of the market (owing to widespread efforts to kerb alcoholic intake and a decline in alcoholic advertisement spending), there were some nice surprises too, with the FIFA World Cup and the summer heatwave providing a much needed boost to beer volume sales and an increase in alcohol consumption in general (Mintel). It’s safe to say that it wasn’t all doom and gloom.

Differing to what the market has previously been accustomed to, most businesses today (if not all), recognise that climate change is a problem. This has been accentuated by the newly implemented EU strategy for ‘Plastics in a Circular Economy’, which has set the target of making all plastic packaging placed on the EU market either reusable or cost-effectively recyclable by 2030.

Consumers are ever more conscious of their environmental impact and are beginning to choose brands accordingly. According to Mintel, 78% of consumers agree that “brands should work to make packaging more environmentally friendly”. In addition, 59% of millennial shoppers say that “environmental responsibility is an important factor in product choice”. We see this information as a valuable opportunity for brewers to take advantage on. 

This growing emphasis on the environment and a global drive towards using sustainable packaging, has certainly seen an increase in the number of businesses who are seeking alternative packaging solutions in replacement for their current use of plastics. 

Having stood the test of time as one of the champions of sustainable packaging and receiving a huge growth in positive affirmation from today’s modern consumer, corrugated packaging has certainly gained notoriety from businesses seeking to make eco-friendly alterations to their current commercial practices. 

Continual developments and technological advancements in the corrugated packaging industry has produced some outstanding examples of attractive finished pieces of packaging. Corrugated cardboard packaging is no longer limited to solely producing a plain brown box.

• 100% renewable, recyclable & reusable
• Corrugated fibres can be reused up to 8 times
• The majority of our boxes are made from 75% recycled cardboard; some are made using 100% recycled materials
• Cardboard boxes have one of the best recycling rates for any packaging material and only a small percentage ends up in landfill
• Can be recovered through composting and biodegradation
• May be incinerated for energy recovery
• Virgin papers are sourced from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC (Program of Endorsement of Forest Certification) certified plants
• Cardboard is disproportionately strong! With so many factors to consider it’s difficult to put a number on how much weight a cardboard box can take. Generally speaking, single-wall cardboard boxes are likely to hold anywhere between 14 & 36 Kg’s, depending on their quality and size. Double-walled cardboard boxes can hold up to a whopping 68Kg’s in weight 

There are many different packaging solutions readily available to brewers who wish to use corrugated packaging as a sustainable alternative to plastics. From standard FEFCO designs to intricate bespoke pieces of packaging, at Saxon Packaging, we are able to produce boxes, cases and cartons to any required quantity and to an exceptionally high quality. All of which can be visually enhanced through a variety of print processes that can produce standard mono-colour print finishes to HD high-gloss photo quality print, comparable to the pages that we see in today’s magazines. 

Proven to be prevalent with a lot of beer customers, Shelf Ready Packaging (otherwise known as SRP,) is still very much growing in popularity. SRP is a multipurpose packaging solution designed to meet logistical and product housing requirements, which, upon its placement on to the commercial points of sale, can convert into a tray or dispenser that facilitates functionality and can be used as an attractive, visually-disruptive piece of packaging that will enhance your product(s) and branding. Using this type of packaging also eliminates the use of plastic shrink-wrap that is traditionally used with open trays.

Aside from boxes and trays, many breweries have chosen to invest in corrugated gift packaging solutions as a way to further premiumise their products. With unique, intricate designs available and bespoke fittings to suit all shapes and sizes, Brewers have recognised the fact that, packaging really is what encourages consumers to lift the products off the shelves over its competitors. And if today’s consumer can identify that purchasing your products is going to leave as little environmental footprint as possible, current market trends tell us that they will select your products over the other choices available to them. 

For the emerging ‘micros’ and the established ‘veterans’ out there, there’s a lot for brewers to reflect on. We recommend that you listen to what your customers are asking from you. Are there any patterns emerging from your new enquiries? Don’t be afraid to ask your existing customers for feedback and act upon it. Do your current methods of packaging align with your businesses values and ethos?  And most importantly… Invest in moving over to sustainable packaging. Trust us. It pays to be environmentally friendly.

Finding the right company to deliver your packaging needs for your products is something every brewery should give some sincere thought to. After investing a lot of time and effort into producing your product(s), you want to avoid falling at the last hurdle. Along with all the other key challenges to consider, your packaging still needs to be reliable, cost effective, of sound quality, aesthetically pleasing and of course… sustainable.

We encourage all brewers, regardless age and experience within the industry, to reach out and seek advice from their packaging manufacturers. Their suggestions and possible solutions for you may be key to your continued success throughout 2019.