Guinness to remove plastic packaging from its beer packs

Plastic ring carriers and shrink wrap will be removed from multipacks of drinks giant Diageo’s beer brands including Guinness, Harp and Smithwick’s.

Guinness calls time on plastic packaging

Drinks giant Diageo is investing £16million/€18.5million to reduce the amount of plastics used in their beer packaging. The move will see the introduction of 100% recyclable and biodegradable cardboard to replace plastic — a reduction of plastic waste equivalent of removing 40 million 50cl plastic bottles from the world.

Diageo to reduce plastic packaging used in their popular product range

The new sustainable beer packs will be on shelves throughout the island of Ireland from August 2019, and from Summer 2020 in Great Britain and other international markets. 

Individual cans are already fully recyclable, including the “widget” which is contained inside cans of Draught Guinness.

“For 260 years Guinness has played a vital role in the communities around us. We already have one of the most sustainable breweries in the world at St. James’s Gate and we are now leading the way in sustainable packaging. This is good news for the brand, for our wider beer portfolio and for the environment.”  said Mark Sandys, Global Head of Beer, Baileys and Smirnoff, on Diageo’s website. 

David Cutter, Chief Sustainability Officer and President, Global Supply & Procurement at Diageo also added, “Great packaging is essential for our products. Consumers expect our packs to look beautiful, be functional, and sustainable. I am proud to announce this investment, through which we have been able to combine all three. We have been working tirelessly to make our packaging more environmentally friendly and I’m thrilled with this outcome for Guinness and our other global beer brands.”

Currently, under 5% of Diageo products’ total packaging around the world is plastic and in 2018, the company announced new plastic targets from 2025 and beyond. These include;

• Ensuring 100% of plastic used is designed to be widely recyclable (or reusable/compostable), using plastics that allow for increased consumer recycling rates
• Achieve 40% average recycled content in their plastic bottles – and 100% by 2030 
• Continue to invest in circular economy opportunities and other sustainable packaging breakthroughs
• Accelerate support for recycling by increasing collaboration, particularly where the company have influence, and engaging with Governments, peers and consumers to facilitate improved recycling.

Source: Diageo