New Belgium Brewing Reduces Packaging
New Belgium Brewing, the maker of Fat Tire Amber Ale, announces that it will remove cardboard partitions from 12-pack carriers in an effort to reduce its cardboard consumption. At current production levels, the move will eliminate 150 tons of cardboard from going into New Belgium packaging, while preventing 174 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. In addition, the transition will save New Belgium an estimated $280,000 in the coming year.
"We've designed a new 12-pack carton that will tighten the case to prevent bottles from hitting each other during transit," says Mark Fischer director of operations. "We ran the initial test of 2,500 cases into our local market with no complaints or breakage issues."
Consumers will start seeing the new 12-packs immediately for some New Belgium beers, while the remainder of its existing Fat Tire inventory will be used through February 2009. Folly Packs, or mixed 12-packs, will still use the partition due to the logistics of hand packing.
"We researched this decision thoroughly and the vast benefits are hard to ignore," adds New Belgium's Sustainability Director Jenn Orgolini. "We are continuously looking at new ways to improve our processes and this shift makes a lot of sense."
"We've designed a new 12-pack carton that will tighten the case to prevent bottles from hitting each other during transit," says Mark Fischer director of operations. "We ran the initial test of 2,500 cases into our local market with no complaints or breakage issues."
Consumers will start seeing the new 12-packs immediately for some New Belgium beers, while the remainder of its existing Fat Tire inventory will be used through February 2009. Folly Packs, or mixed 12-packs, will still use the partition due to the logistics of hand packing.
"We researched this decision thoroughly and the vast benefits are hard to ignore," adds New Belgium's Sustainability Director Jenn Orgolini. "We are continuously looking at new ways to improve our processes and this shift makes a lot of sense."