Brewery collects used bottles to reduce waste

PETALING JAYA: More than 100,000 beer bottles are returned daily to the manufacturer, says brewer company Carlsberg Malaysia.

Its supply chain director Peter Wachenschwanz said that in an effort to ensure sustainability, an incentive system was introduced to encourage suppliers and retailers to return used glass bottles.

“We work with our suppliers and retailers and give them incentives to encourage the return of used bottles.

“The retailers also benefit in terms of cost savings,” he said.

Wachenschwanz added that as of 2021, the company recorded a 75% return rate of bottles compared to 90% before the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also said Carlsberg Malaysia is the first in the world to pioneer the use of new wax emulsion coating to help double the lifespan of the bottles.

“The coating reduces scuffing, which extends the bottles’ longevity, allowing them to look new and scratch-free for longer and reducing the need for bottles to be taken out of circulation for recycling,” he said.

Other efforts by the company include reducing the weight of packaging, turning glass bottles into cullet which will be recycled into new bottles and upcycling the materials into other products.

Wachenschwanz said that to date, the packaging of the beverage, including production and disposal of packaging materials, makes up 48% of the company’s carbon footprint.

“We continue to study measures to reduce carbon footprint impact, such as increasing recycled content in cans and shrink wrap, optimising packaging mix and material sourcing,” he said.