Due to an unknown snafu, I could not watch the live stream of the discussion where the NAGBW tackled inflation and packaging and sustainability. But I did watch a couple days later. The speaker was Bourcard Nesin a beverage industry analyst and it was made clear what should be done, which is quite different from what might be done.
Here are my takeaways from the discussion…
- most sustainability claims are bullshit
- U.S. is exceptional in are low recycling rates
- part of the problem is that there is no centralized recycling system in place
- returnable and re-used glass would be the best option
- Oregon is leading that charge
- un-returnable glass is the worst option compared to aluminum and plastic because of cost to create, cost to re-make and weight of shipping
- a “universal bottle” be it plastic or glass would create economies of scale.
- no returnable bottles infrastructure
- you will probably hear the word “lightweighting” in the future
- lots of promises by business to endorse “extended producer responsibility” but when it arrives business does not do it