October 8, 2008
2 Billion Votes for Ontario's Environment
Ontario beer consumers return more packaging for reuse and recycling than ever.
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 8 /CNW/ - The Beer Store (TBS) today released its sixth edition of "Responsible Stewardship", reporting on the remarkable performance of its world renowned deposit return based packaging recovery system.
As the single largest collection system for consumer packaging in Canada, The Beer Store has once again set a global benchmark for the collection, reuse and recycling of beer packaging. For the 12 month period May 1, 2007, through April 30, 2008, the following environmental landmarks were achieved:
While Ontario beer drinkers consumed more beer, they also returned proportionally more packaging than in the previous year. Ontario beer consumers returned 93 per cent of the two billion beer containers sold in Ontario, a one per cent increase over the previous year. These containers include: refillable bottles; draught kegs; non- refillable glass bottles; aluminum and steel cans; and PET (plastic) bottles; - Ontario beer consumers returned 98 per cent of over 1.47 billion refillable beer containers. The Canadian brewing industry's standard refillable beer bottle enjoys the highest return rate of any package in the world. Once refilled 12 to 15 times these bottles are then recycled. Ontario beer consumers returned one per cent more refillable bottles than they did in the previous year; resulting in, - An avoided 135,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions associated with refilling beer bottles rather than having to manufacture a new container for each beer serving.
"This year's Responsible Stewardship report is one I am especially proud of," says Ted Clarke, president of The Beer Store. "It documents the ever improving performance of the world's most effective and efficient consumer packaging management system." The Beer Store packaging management system operates on the fundamental principle of "extended producer responsibility" (EPR), an internationally recognized approach for putting the onus for the financial and environmental costs (natural resource consumption, waste and pollution) of products and packaging on product producers and not taxpayers. The Beer Store's collection, reuse and recycling of beer packaging avoids $38 million in municipal curbside collection and recycling costs annually. While reducing blue box operating costs, The Beer Store packaging management system also helps to free up municipal curbside collection capacity to recover valuable and easily recycled materials such as paper. "EPR is the way we have been doing business right from The Beer Store's very inception in 1927.
EPR is really the future for the collection, reuse and recycling of all consumer goods," states Ted Clarke. "The Beer Store operates its system on behalf of the 80 different brewers that sell through it and those brewers demand high collection, reuse and recycling rates at the least cost to themselves and to beer consumers. This unrelenting drive for efficiency benefits brewers, consumers and the environment alike."
In February 2007, all wine, spirit and beer containers sold by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) and Ontario privately operated retail stores also became subject to a province-wide deposit and refund system under the Ontario Deposit Return Program (ODRP). With the introduction of ODRP all beverage alcohol containers sold at LCBO and Ontario private liquor stores such as winery stores can now be returned for a deposit refund at any of The Beer Store's 440 retail outlets, 150 empty bottle dealers or 216 agency stores (806 total redemption locations). The Beer Store also takes back empty beer, wine and spirit containers from 16,700 licensed bars and restaurants in the province.
During the 12 month period ending April 30, 2008, Ontario beer, wine and spirit drinkers returned 239 million or 67 per cent of all wine and spirit containers sold in Ontario to The Beer Store. Large glass containers (greater than 630ml) were returned at an impressive rate of 77 per cent. These are outstanding first year recovery statistics. "The total combined recovery rate of 89 per cent for all beverage alcohol containers sold in Ontario is exceptional," observes Jo-Anne St. Godard, Executive Director of the Recycling Council of Ontario. "The waste reduction benefits of The Beer Store's return, refill and recycle program speak for themselves."
The Beer Store is the primary distribution and sales channel for beer in Ontario selling 85 per cent of the beer sold in the province. Open to all brewers, TBS operates 440 retail stores, serves 16,700 licensed customers, 600 government-owned LCBO retail locations, 140 Retail Partners, and 76 Northern Agents. Customers can choose from more than 350 beer brands from over 80 brewers from around the world. The Beer Store is proud of its 81-year history of social responsibility and environmental leadership including its bottle deposit return system and commitment to recover 100 per cent of beer packaging, as well as all wine and spirit containers through the new Ontario Deposit Return Program.
To download a copy of Responsible Stewardship 2007-2008 please visit www.thebeerstore.ca/AboutUs/environmental_leadership.asp.
For further information: Sara J. Taylor, Manager of Communications, The Beer Store, (905) 361-4203, sara.taylor@thebeerstore.ca
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2008/08/c3567.html
