American brewers introduce packaging solution

WaveGrip, a brand of Berry Global, is providing a packaging solution and carrier return scheme for Orpheus Brewing.

The idea is to help Atlanta-based Orpheus, which operates a 16,000sqft brewhouse, reduce its packaging waste and reduce the brewery’s annual packaging footprint by approximately 85%.

Weighing only 3.5g for a standard six-pack carrier, WaveGrip provides an 85% reduction in material usage when compared to HDPE plastic handles and 10% savings when compared to traditional ring carriers. Reduced manufacturing footprint, transport costs, and ease-of-storage also contributed to the brewery’s decision in choosing WaveGrip.

Orpheus drinkers can now return their used carriers to any of Orpheus’s taprooms and receive an incentive off future Orpheus beer purchases for their efforts. Once a sufficient number of carriers have been returned, they are collected in bulk by WaveGrip and recycled into a diverse range of products such as decking, road paving and other types of packaging – or even more WaveGrip carriers. 

‘The sustainability of WaveGrip was fundamental to our choice of carriers and has helped to significantly reduce our packaging usage,’ said Orpheus CEO Remco Bos. ‘The final part for us was ensuring that with its recyclability we could ensure that each WaveGrip carrier was not wasted. Our Carrier Recycle Programme now delivers this and by incentivising our customers to return their carriers we have a win-win situation for both the environment and them.’

‘We know how important sustainability is to our customers and it is integral to our WaveGrip products and development,’ added WaveGrip managing director Aaron McIvor. ‘We are therefore delighted to support this initiative by Orpheus Brewing and ensure that WaveGrip carriers are collected as part of a circular approach to packaging.

‘We very much hope that this is the first step in launching a wider collection scheme in the US and will be working closely with our existing and new customers to support their initiatives in the return of used carriers in the coming months.’