Eco Packaging
Environmental Responsibility & Working Toward A Sustainable Future
The United Nations defines sustainable development in the Brundtland Report as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It assumes that resources are finite, and so should be used conservatively and carefully to ensure that there is enough for future generations, without decreasing present quality of life. A sustainable society must be socially responsible, focussing on environmental protection and dynamic equilibrium in human and natural systems.
The 3 Pillars of Sustainability
The concept of sustainability is composed of three pillars: environmental, social and economic, also known informally as profits, planet, and people. These are in particular relevance to corporate sustainability, and efforts made by companies.
Environmental Protection
is the most frequently discussed element, concerned with the reduction of carbon footprints, water usage, non-decomposable packaging, and wasteful processes as part of a supply chain. These processes can often be cost-effective, and financially useful as well as important for environmental sustainability.
Social Development
is about treating employees fairly and ensuring responsible, ethical, and sustainable treatment of employees, stakeholders, and the community in which a business operates. This may be achieved through more responsive benefits, like better maternity and paternity benefits, flexible scheduling, and learning and development opportunities. For example, businesses should operate using sustainable labour, which involves fairly-paid, adult employees who can operate in a safe environment.
Economic Development
is probably the simplest form of sustainability. To be economically sustainable, a business must be profitable and produce enough revenues to be continued into the future. The challenge with this form of sustainability is achieving an equilibrium. Rather than making money at any cost, companies should attempt to generate profit in accordance with all other elements of sustainability, which is a concept fully endorsed and practised at AxelJack Brewery.
Focussing on social and environmental sustainability in addition to economic performance is an approach frequently referred to as the Triple Bottom Line..Which informs and shapes our decision making in relation to our choice of packaging materials.
Beer Cans
Aluminium is a resource that forms about 8% of the earth's crust. It is mined and extracted from bauxite, which contains the compound alumina, in an energy-intensive electrolytic process. Four tonnes of bauxite contains two tonnes of alumina, which yields one tonne of valuable aluminium.
Aluminium is the most cost-effective material to recycle, using around only 5% of the energy and emissions needed to make it from the raw material bauxite. In addition, all the scraps left over from the aluminium production process can be melted down and used again and again. Around 75% of all the aluminium ever made is still in circulation.
Beer Can Holders
Our plain 4-pack beer can rings are plastic free and made from Bagasse, which is a rapidly renewable sugarcane pulp and a by-product of the sugar refining industry. Certified home compostable (AS5810), sustainable and environmentally responsible.
UniKeg’s – Tap into the
circular economy.
The UniKeg® integrates the lightweight containers Double Wall™ technology, the use of a spear and conventional fittings. These technologies have proven themselves separately in practice, and work seamlessly together.
The two walls work dynamically together, making every keg able to withstand both higher internal pressures and rough handling throughout the supply chain. These kegs us universal conventional fittings. With a Sankey coupler, the keg will fit any CO2, nitrogen or mixed-gas dispensing system.
Ergonomic: The optimal slim shape fits easily under a bar or in a kegerator or refrigerator. Its shape, low weight and ergonomic grip make the UniKeg® easy to use for everyone in the supply chain.
Sustainability: This single use keg is made from PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), which is a type of clear, strong, lightweight and 100% recyclable plastic. Unlike other types of plastic PET is not single use and is made to be remade.
Simply recycle the keg when empty or use the QR code on the keg to learn more about the growing Returns Network operated by the One Circle group. Either way you will be contributing to the circular economy and avoiding unnecessary waste.
Loose & Void Fill Peanuts
When shipping beer cans ordered online, we fill the void around the cans in the packaging to ensure that you receive your beers in good condition. Biodegradable packing peanuts are made from naturally derived starches like wheat and cornstarch. Entirely plant-based, biodegradable packing peanuts will dissolve in water, making it impossible for them to wind up polluting oceans, lakes, rivers, or waterways.
Mini-Kegs
Our 5L mini-kegs for home and event use, are made from fully recyclable tinplate and come with a rubber bung and PET handle for ease of use. The bung/tap sits close to the base, so your guests can enjoy every last drop. You won’t need any additional accessories to use this beer keg. Plus, it can be resealed, so you can keep some of the contents fresh for later.
Please make sure your mini keg is completely empty before you recycle it. Once it is finished, all you have to do is put it into your dry mixed recycling, just as you would with one of our Aluminium beer cans.
Outer Boxes/Shipping Packaging
Corrugated or fluted fiberboard is a sustainable material that is used in manufacturing shipping and packaging boxes. The corrugated industry has the best recycling rate of any packaging material used today. In fact, the fibres from corrugated fiberboard can be recycled up to 25 times. This means that most corrugated boxes are composed of 70% to 100% recycled materials.
Being such a highly recycled material makes corrugated the environmentally supportive option.
While corrugated is highly recyclable, it relies on people to be recycled, therefore it needs to be placed in the recycling collection and general waste. Although the material is also biodegradable and will naturally absorb into the environment, further supporting a healthy ecosystem.
Help with Global Reforestation & Community Sustainability
Every 50 (4-pack) orders despatched and multiples therof, enables the planting of a tree through a global reforestation project via Eden Reforestation Projects.
Packaging Tape
All our packaging is sealed using brown recycled Kraft paper, self-adhesive tape, to avoid the use of single use plastic. Both adhesive and paper are biodegradable and recyclable.
Sustainable Forestry
All of the paper based materials used in our packaging (fluted paperboard, labels and tape) are sourced from certified Forestry Stewardship Council members. Committed to the sustainability of forestry in ecological, economic, employment and social terms.
Shipping Labels
The address labels we use to send you our products are made from recycled paper with a biodegradable self-adhesive and printed on direct-thermal printers, without the use of printing inks. The backing paper for the labels is coated with a Silicone release liner and is not therefore fully biodegradable and has to be disposed of responsibly, which we attempt to offset with our involvement in the tree planting program with Eden Reforestation Projects.