Leading global keg manufacturers have come together to form a new Steel Keg Association, shining a light on circularity.

The Steel Keg Association is a marketing-focused non-profit organization, on a mission to help increase the volume of beer and other beverages served from stainless steel kegs.

The Association’s founding members represent a diverse collection of leaders in the global steel keg supply chain: BLEFA GmbH, Hillebrand Gori, Micro Matic, MicroStar Logistics, Schaefer Container Systems, and THIELMANN.

The new association wants to draw attention to stainless steel kegs’ reusability and 30+ year lifespan which make them the ideal circular choice for bars and restaurants. This fact, they believe, makes steel kegs a vital part of the beverage industry and is the catalyst for the formation of the new industry association.

“Most people have never thought of kegs as the ultimate reusable containers… when you choose draft from steel kegs, you’re making the most sustainable choice by removing single-use packages from recycling and landfill streams,” said Dan Vorlage, Executive Director of the newly formed association and MicroStar Logistics VP of Global Marketing.

“Take beer enjoyed in bars and restaurants in the U.S. as an example. Kegs presently remove about half of all single-use beer containers from the bar/restaurant waste stream each year, that’s approximately 6 billion containers… converting the other half to draft removes a combined 12+ billion single-use containers. That’s a goal worth raising a pint to, and we’re encouraging others to join in.”

ISO framework

The Steel Keg Association’s marketing programs are supported by a new ISO-14040 framework Life Cycle Analysis from Deloitte. Kyle Tanger, Managing Director in Deloitte’s U.S. sustainability practice, says, “Steel kegs are truly one of the best examples of reusability and circularity, with decades of reuse potential. In the U.S., compared to single use containers, steel kegs save over 400,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and keep roughly 500,000 tons of packaging out of landfills each year.”

The Steel Keg Association is the non-profit marketing organization focused on increasing the volume of beer and other beverages served from stainless steel kegs. Source: The Steel Keg Association

Circularity is just part of the story of kegs. The Steel Keg Association’s education programs will also highlight that steel kegs deliver bulk liquids driving superior economic benefits for bars and restaurants. Additionally, marketing programs will showcase how consumers and brewers appreciate the uniquely “fresh” draft beer experience.

The Steel Keg Association’s efforts will be focused on the U.S. beer market initially, expanding to the U.K. and Western Europe later in 2022.

To learn more or get involved visit www.steelkegassociation.org.