Diageo will remove plastic from Guinness multipacks | Business



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Plastic canisters and shrink wrap must be removed from Guinness's multiple packaging, owner Diageo said on Monday.

Diageo is phasing out multiple packaging plastic packaging from its Guinness, Harp, Rockshore and Smithwick beers and replacing them with 100% recyclable and biodegradable cardboard packaging.

The new packaging will appear on the shelves in Ireland in August, followed by the UK and other international markets in 2020. The individual cans are already fully recyclable, including the widget inside Draft cans. Guinness who creates his unctuous head.

Mr Diageo announced that he was investing £ 16 million to reduce the amount of plastic used in his beer packaging as part of a campaign to create more sustainable packaging in the war on plastics for single use. Less than 5% of its packaging is plastic and the company announced that this measure would further reduce the use of more than 400 tons per year, equivalent to 40 million 50cl plastic bottles.

"For 260 years, Guinness has played a vital role in the communities around us," said Mark Sandys, Global Beer Manager at Diageo. "We already have one of the most sustainable breweries in the world at St James's Gate. [in Dublin] and we are now opening the door to sustainable packaging. This is good news for the brand, for our beer portfolio and for the environment. "

Plastic rings, known in the industry as hi-cones or yokes, are connected rings used to hold together multiple packs of canned beverages, especially beers. As a standard packaging device for more than 50 years, they have become a plague of the environment by contributing to the increasing plastic pollution of the oceans and posing a threat to marine life.

Last year, in a quest to find an alternative, Carlsberg announced its intention to replace the rings with recyclable glue. He is gradually introducing a "snap-in" which he says will reduce the amount of plastic used in traditional multipacks by up to 76%. In the UK, the change will initially concern Carlsberg Export, but the company said the pack would eventually be used for its entire beverage portfolio, including Tuborg and San Miguel.

Meanwhile, the Corona Beer brand has started piloting six-component, plastic-free, biodegradable, herbal-based rings. They will be introduced on its domestic market in Tulum, Mexico and then in the United Kingdom.

Plastic waste has become an urgent problem, with television programs such as Blue Planet II exposing its impact on the oceans. Warnings are also given about the dangers of excessive plastic consumption around the world.

Ms. Sue Kinsey, Marine Pollution Control Policy Officer at the Marine Conservation Society, said, "There are a small number of these bars in our beach cleanups on a regular basis. At the Great British Beach Clean last year, we found about 100 on a weekend. They constitute a danger for the wildlife that can take it. Any action taken to stop the flow of plastic in our oceans must be welcomed. "

David Cutter, Diageo's Director of Sustainable Development and President, Global Procurement and Procurement, added, "Quality packaging is essential for our products. Consumers expect our packaging to be beautiful, functional and durable. I am proud to announce this investment, thanks to which we have been able to combine all three.

"We have worked tirelessly to make our packaging greener and I am delighted with this result for Guinness and our other global beer brands."

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