Focus on the circularity of packaging
To tackle the environmental impact associated with packaging, we have undertaken a thorough assessment of the carbon footprints of various packaging types. A ‘cradle-to-grave’ analysis was executed, taking into account all life cycle stages from creation to the end of life of the products. The analysis of Duvel Moortgat’s products included the following packaging components: closure, containers, inner packaging, labels, outer packaging, plastic film, trays, crates and pallets. This evaluation, performed through a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) analysis, has shed light on the importance of sustainable packaging practices. Products are mainly packs of cans or bottles (reusable or single use) and kegs. For each product, the carbon footprint has been assessed for 1 item and for 1 hL of beer produced in Belgium in 2021.
An assessment of the environmental impact of internal transport, washing the container, distribution to clients and end-of-life of the packaging is also included in the study. The impacts are herewith displayed per hL to compare the different products. The results show that the impact per hL can vary significantly between the different types of packaging: single-use bottles especially can have an impact up to four times higher than other products, for the same quantity of beer. The kegs have the lowest emissions per hL of beer, while cans and reusable bottles show a similar impact. Indeed, most impact comes from the packaging itself; thus reusable containers allow significant lowering of the footprint of the products. For most products, the other steps don’t account for a large share of the total impact.
