Grolsch set to stop using disposable plastic for cans

It is the brewery’s ambition to start replacing all its plastic can carriers with cardboard packaging as early as this year, launching its patented TopClip packaging for multi-packs. This new packaging is 100% plastic free, and by replacing all can carriers in the Dutch market with this cardboard equivalent, Grolsch will save more than 100,000 kg of new plastic every year, which is the same as over 4 million new plastic bags!

 

Launch at PLUS Supermarkets
The new cardboard TopClip packaging is set to be launched exclusively at PLUS, which has been voted the country’s most responsible supermarket chain for the past five years. From mid-March until the end of August 2020, Grolsch multi-packs with TopClip packaging will be exclusively available at selected PLUS supermarkets throughout the Netherlands. Pending the success of the launch, Grolsch has the ambition to start rolling out TopClip multi-packs as early as this year.

 

Sustainable, high-quality and easy to use
Joost Nawijn, Packaging Material Development Specialist at Grolsch: “We recently transitioned to using 100% recycled plastic for our plastic can carriers, but our ambition to replace disposable plastic with more sustainable alternatives has led us to continue to innovate. Thanks to our close cooperation with Smurfit Kappa, who developed the TopClip packaging, we can already launch this highly sustainable packaging. An independent Life Cycle Analysis showed that replacing the current plastic can carriers with TopClip packaging would lead to carbon savings of a huge 36% compared to new plastic and 16% to recycled plastic carriers. The total so-called Eco-costs are even cut in half. TopClip packaging is also 100% recyclable and FSC-certified.

Ard Bossema, Marketing & Strategy Director at Grolsch: “Grolsch was impressed by the sustainable character, premium appearance and carrying comfort of this new solution. It meshes with our ambition to maximise the use of circular packaging and eliminate disposable plastic, as we believe we are responsible for contributing to a better, greener and circular world.”

 

Sustainable. Character.

Under the name ‘Duurzaam. Karakter.’ (‘Sustainable. Character.’), Royal Grolsch has pursued an active sustainability policy for many years. One of our key principles is taking a circular, inclusive approach to how we think and what we do. Almost 100% of all Grolsch packaging for the Dutch market can be recycled. Grolsch was the first brewer in the world to produce crates made from 100% recycled consumer plastic. Following the recent switch to 100% recycled can carriers, the introduction of TopClip packaging marks a major step forward in eliminating disposable plastic and maximising circular packaging.

 

For more information about Grolsch’s sustainability policy and recent results, visit www.koninklijkegrolsch.nl.
 

 

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Editorial information
For additional information and/or visuals, please contact:

Royal Grolsch
Koert van ’t Hof
Corporate Affairs Department
Tel: +31 53 48 33 407
corporatecommunications@grolsch.nl

www.grolsch.nl
www.koninklijkegrolsch.nl
 

About Grolsch
Royal Grolsch N.V. traces its history back to 1615, making it one of the oldest and most successful breweries in the Netherlands, with a presence on the Dutch market and a large number of international beverage markets. Royal Grolsch has a wide portfolio of brands and beer styles, including Grolsch Premium Pilsner, Grolsch 0.0%, Grolsch’s specialty beers, Grolsch Radler, De Klok, Kornuit, Peroni, Meantime, Asahi Super Dry and Grimbergen. Royal Grolsch has been based in a modern brewery in Enschede since 2004 and became a subsidiary of Asahi Group Holdings on 11 October 2016.

About Asahi
Asahi Group Holdings is an internationally operating Japanese company with a portfolio consisting of beer, spirits, soft drinks and food. Asahi strives to create new values in order to share impressive moments with people all over the world. Asahi, the Japanese word for rising sun, was founded as the Osaka Beer Brewing Company in 1889, when its founder, Komakichi Torii, decided to brew an original, Japanese beer. Asahi Super Dry was introduced in 1987, giving a tremendous boost to Asahi’s growth in Japan and in international markets around the world. Asahi is the market leader in Japan, has a strong position in many international markets and actively strives to expand its international position. More information: http://www.asahigroup-holdings.com/en/.

 

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