Heineken to replace plastic rings on UK cans

Heineken joins a growing list of companies that are scrapping plastic ring-binds and shrinkwrap on its multipack canned formats and replacing this with eco-friendly cardboard ‘toppers’ in the UK market initially according to media reports.

 

Earlier this year we reported that Molson Coors is removing plastic packaging from its Carling and Coors Light brands in Ireland and the UK as part of its recently-announced global packaging goals.

Diageo announced a similar move last April.

Heineken has invested some £22 million in the UK development which sees new technology and production facilities introduced to its UK sites to go into production next April.

Heineken plans to expand the use of these ‘toppers’ to its cider and ale brands going forward.

It’s envisaged that the new recyclable cardboard can binders will be initially rolled out for its Heineken, Fosters and Kronenbourg 1664 brands before being expanded to other brands, replacing the plastic can pack rings which have been used for the past 50 years.

Here, while around 60% of Heineken Ireland’s packaged beer and cider products do not use consumer-facing plastic packaging, Heineken Ireland now aims to eliminate all remaining consumer-facing plastic across its full portfolio.

Shoppers will notice a major change this festive season as the brewer replaces the plastic shrinkwrap from its Heineken Christmas Festive pack to fully recycled cardboard the company stated this afternoon.

“From next year, consumers and customers will see further significant progress as remaining shrinkwrap and plastic can connectors are replaced, taking more than 100 tonnes of plastic out of circulation,” it stated.