Recycling has been in the news a lot lately, and not necessarily in a good way. The New York Times reported that “As Costs Skyrocket, More U.S. Cities Stop Recycling,” while The Atlantic asked, “Is This the End of Recycling?” (Hint: it’s not.) Changes that are rocking the recycling industry also have an impact on the carbon footprint of beer, and we’ll explain how. This session will explain why recycling is important, why its struggling, and what craft brewers can do about it. Bottles and cans and cardboard all seem simple, but we’ll share hidden facts about the lifecycle of these materials. In addition to discussing trends in the U.S., we’ll also highlight waste reduction trends worldwide.

Learning Objectives:

Learn which element is the largest portion of the carbon footprint of beer; Learn which packaging choices reduce the carbon footprint the most; Learn what brewers can do to get involved in improving recycling systems in their communities, their states, and the U.S. as a whole