Plastic beer kegs may be reusable, but the reusability will vary with material type, design and use. Plastic beer kegs made with HDPE or PET polymer are generally not made for multiple use and high-quality. For this reason, manufacturers normally advise using one-way systems for disposable kegs to save on cleaning and logistics costs.
Plastic beer kegs designed for repetitive use are fitted with features such as strengthened barrel walls and pressurized transfer valves. These kegs will last for 10 to 20 uses, depending on handling and cleaning procedures. Reusable models, such as those from Petainer state they have a lifecycle of three years if cared for correctly. When you compare it to single-use kegs that are thrown away after the first use, this lifespan is favorable.
Less cost: Less cost for cleaning and sterilizing plastic beer kegs than available steel ones. A reusable plastic keg needs approximately 10–15 litres of water per cleaning cycle while a steel keg can use as much as up to 25 litres. This can also have a knock-on effect when it comes to the reduced use of water and cleaning chemicals, making plastic kegs an attractive option for breweries placing sustainability high on their agenda.
The only concern that comes to mind is the durability, however reusable plastic kegs offer the same level of safety and product integrity offered by steel, according to various studies. These are chemically inert and have oxygen barrier properties along with UV-resistant coatings which protect the contents from spoiling. On the downside, plastic kegs are more susceptible to scratches/wear and tear, which can affect reusability if not properly monitored.
An interesting case in point is Coca-Cola: it uses refillable plastic bottles for its Freestyle machines. These kegs go through 30-50 fill cycles before they are recycled, showcasing that level of reusability is indeed possible in a high volume environment. It then followed by emphasizing the importance of innovation in keg design and materials for this success.
Plastic beer kegs designed for reuse are an environmental solution overseas, aligning with circular economy principles. For example, One of the companies that adopt a closed-loop system is KeyKeg; They collect used kegs up to 95%, recycle them and make new ones. It saves up to 70% of the cost in materials and uses less virgin plastic, thereby preserving the profits for a lower environmental impact.
MORE FROM FORBES ADVISOR June 16, 2023,Sustainability is good business. We see this through the increasing prevalence of reusable plastic beer kegs, for example, which brings together sustainability and operational efficiency.
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