After the successful launch of its beer can clip recycling program on the East Coast, Endeavour Group has rolled out the closed loop scheme to partners in Western Australia and South Australia.
Explaining the program, Endeavour Group (EG) Sustainability Manager, Sam Lungerhausen, says: “Many beer lovers are familiar with the can clips that hold four and six packs of brews together.”
“But most probably don’t realise that the clips are made of such sturdy material that they can be reused multiple times before being recycled and made into new clips.”
The can clips are a great example of how the beer industry is adopting a circular approach to recycling, Lungerhausen says.
“There have been no multi-state recycling options available for customers where they can return the clips, so many end up in landfill, which is why we have initiated this industry-wide reuse and recycling scheme.”
In South Australia, EG has partnered with Totness brewery, Prancing Pony, who have been reusing can clips from returned by customers since 2019. The move is both ecologically and economically sound, reducing waste, and saving money for the producer.
Under the expanded scheme, brewers like Prancing Pony will be able to collect can clips from selected by BWS and Dan Murphy’s stores across the state. The scheme makes it easier for producers to collect can clips, and more convenient for the customer to donate them.
“We are passionate about reducing our environmental footprint at Prancing Pony, which is why we are excited about partnering with Endeavour Group,” said Prancing Pony CEO and Founer, Corinna Steeb.
“This is an excellent initiative from the Endeavour Group as it reduces waste and at the same time, it is convenient for shoppers as they can return these clips on their way to buy their favourite beverages.”
The scheme also has the approval of state government.
South Australia’s Minister for Environment and Water, David Spiers, said: “Initiatives like this are good for the economy as well as the environment, with more than three times as many jobs created for a tonne of waste reused or recycled instead of going to landfill.”
And in Western Australia, EG has joined forces with Sharka Hornakova, the founder of local sustainability start-up, Donut Waste.
As in SA, customers will be able to place used can clips in collection centres located in selected BWS and Dan Murphy’s stores. Hornakova and the Donut Waste team will then collect the clips, and sell them back to breweries at a discounted price.
“Our aim is to make enough money to cover our exp enses so we can make the whole process economically viable. Finding solutions that financially stack up is very important on a local as well as global scale to move us towards the circular economy,” Hornakova said.
Once the clips can no longer be used, they are sent onto Visy Recycling, where they are processed into high density polyethylene (HDPE) resin, which in turn can be used to produce more can clips.
South Australian and West Australian customers can find the recycling units in the following BWS and Dan Murphy’s stores:
- Dan Murphy’s Norwood, 97 The Parade, Norwood SA 5067
- Dan Murphy’s Mount Barker, 52/60 Hutchinson St, Mount Barker SA 5251
- BWS Adelaide, 1517 Gilbert St, Adelaide SA 5000
- BWS Stirling 62 Mount Barker Rd, Stirling SA 5152
- Dan Murphy’s Hyde Park Cnr Bulwer and, Fitzgerald St, West Perth WA 6005
- Dan Murphy’s Innaloo, 401 Scarborough Beach Rd, Innaloo WA 6018
- Dan Murphy’s Bicton, 378 Canning Hwy, Bicton WA 6157
- BWS Mt Hawthorn, 223 Scarborough Beach Rd, Mount Hawthorn WA 6016
- BWS Bullcreek, Bullcreek Shopping Centre, 44 Benningfield Rd, Bull Creek WA 6149
- BWS Perth, 231 Hay St, East Perth WA 6004