As part of its plans to reduce its carbon emissions rate to zero, Carlsberg has revealed plans to replace plastic can holders used in lager and beer multipacks with recyclable glue. The Danish brewer claims that the new 'snap pack' will reduce the amount of plastic used by up to 76%.
Traditional plastic pack rings, the standard packaging device for canned drinks, contribute to the growing problem of ocean plastic pollution and pose a threat to marine life. The company claims that these changes will reduce plastic waste globally by more than 1,200 tonnes a year, the equivalent of 60 million plastic bags.
The cans will be held together by small blobs of strong glue, designed to withstand a range of temperatures during storage, transportation and refrigeration in the home. The glue can then be recycled along with the aluminium can. The new cans will appear first in Tesco branches in the UK from 10 September.
Dr Sue Kinsey, senior pollution policy officer at the Marine Conservation Society, said:
"This is an interesting development and will help cut down the amount of plastic on our beaches and in our seas. These kinds of can yokes are regularly found in small numbers on our beach cleans. During last year's Great British Beach Clean we found around 100 over one weekend. They are a hazard to wildlife which can get entangled in them. Any steps taken to stop the flow of plastics to our oceans are to be welcomed."
