HEINEKEN UK introduces the latest version of its Green Grip packaging with “improved strength and stability”. Since launching the Green Grip in August 2020, the company says 336 tonnes of plastic have been saved.
HEINEKEN UK says the launch of the latest edition of Green Grip packaging, a cardboard holder for multipacks of cans, is part of a wider £14m investment following months of research and development.
The move, HEINEKEN UK says, is part of its sustainability programme “Brew a Better World” and its commitment to finding “innovative” solutions to design out waste and introduce packaging that has less impact on the environment.
The new design follows the Green Grip’s initial launch in August 2020, which replaced plastic can holders with a 100% recyclable cardboard topper. HEINEKEN UK says the Green Grip offers consumers the same ease of use as traditional plastic can rings but without the need for single-use plastic.
Since the launch of the Green Grip into the market, HEINEKEN UK says it has removed 336 tonnes of single-use plastic from its supply chain, including the supply chain of its customers. On top of this, since the end of 2021, the company says it has removed all consumer-facing secondary plastic packaging from its UK production sites.
We are committed to innovating and making continuous improvements to reduce our carbon footprint.
After several trials, both in laboratories and in stores, Heineken says its team found the double-layered Green Grip to be the best-performing solution. By double layering the cardboard, HEINEKEN UK says it has been able to create a more durable solution whilst keeping material use to a minimum and ensuring the Green Grip remains recyclable.
The £14m funding has been made available to invest in HEINEKEN UK’s Manchester, Hereford and Tadcaster sites to equip production lines with Green Grip technology. The installation of the Green Grip is currently underway at the final site, Tadcaster, with commissioning due before the end of the year, which Heineken says completes the roll-out of Green Grip packaging across all its sites and brands.
The new double-layered Green Grip is being rolled out across all HEINEKEN UK brands in multi-pack cans, including Heineken, Birra Moretti, Strongbow, and John Smith’s throughout the remainder of 2022.
Head of Sustainability at HEINEKEN UK, Chelsey Wroe, said: “We have delivered on our pledge to eliminate plastic can rings as well as removing other plastic packaging through our supply chain.
“Through our Brew a Better World sustainability strategy, we are committed to innovating and making continuous improvements to reduce our carbon footprint, as well as eliminating waste and closing material loops.
