Reusable with added value - Stainless steel KEGs for wines, juices, soft drinks, water and spirits in demand

Glass and plastic are a thing of the past: Instead of conventional beverage packaging, stainless steel kegs create sustainable, durable and hygienic packaging solutions for a wide range of beverages – from beer, wine and fruit juices, through to soft drinks and water. More and more beverage bottlers around the world are trusting in the associated benefits. Stainless steel KEGs from SCHÄFER Container Systems are the ideal reusable packaging for a wide range of beverages. They allow for efficient circular economies and help the beverage industry to optimise its ecological footprint. In addition, reusable stainless steel kegs guarantee the highest levels of quality and hygiene, protect the flavour of the drinks and improve logistical processes.

For beer, reusable stainless steel KEGs have been common and proven for many decades. For some time now, winemakers, manufacturers of soft drinks, juices and water bottlers have also been rethinking their approach – in favour of an efficient circular economy and reusable products instead of single-use products. SCHÄFER Container Systems has already assisted many beverage bottlers, wineries and spirits distilleries in Europe and around the world with their successful conversion.

There are many good reasons why stainless steel KEGs are increasingly being used for bottling wine, soft drinks, juices and table water. Stainless steel kegs have a service life of 30 years and more. In this way, they enable efficient, sustainable recycling systems and, unlike plastic packaging, are fully recyclable at the end of this very long life cycle without any loss of quality. Proven reusable concepts and deposit systems help to save costs, conserve resources, significantly reduce waste and therefore sustainably improve the emissions balance of beverage producers.

There are also specific material advantages: Stainless steel is corrosion-resistant, meaning that kegs do not rust even in damp or aggressive environments, but maintain the integrity and hygiene of the contents at all times. In addition, stainless steel KEGs retain their neutral taste and flavour stability. Heat, moisture and light don't stand a chance, and dirt, parasites and bacteria are also reliably kept out.

Advantages for logistics result from the fact that stainless steel KEGs are standardised in size and shape and can therefore be stacked efficiently for transport. This optimises logistical processes and saves transport costs. The catering industry also benefits from greater efficiency. You can change over to dispensing units with a manageable amount of effort. One advantage of this: A system with an integrated counter allows for exact portioning and billing.

As a leading supplier of stainless steel KEG kegs, SCHÄFER Container Systems offers innovative, reusable solutions for a wide range of beverages: These include reusable kegs made of stainless steel (SUDEX KEGs), stainless steel KEGs with a polyurethane coating (PLUS KEGs) and particularly lightweight ECO KEGs in sizes from 5 to 100 litres as well as US standards. The range is rounded off by innovative solutions such as the self-sufficient Draft2go dispensing system as well as Party and DIN KEGs.

In addition, KEGs with a wide range of branding options and individual colouring contribute to an eye-catching presentation of the respective beverage brand. With state-of-the-art production facilities at two European locations and a global sales network, SCHÄFER Container Systems ensures efficient order processing, high levels of flexibility and fast delivery capability.

There are many signs that the trend towards stainless steel KEGs is likely to continue. The demand for environmentally friendly packaging solutions is growing continuously. Organisations such as the German Metal Packaging Association (Verband Metallverpackung, VMV) or the Europe-wide initiative "metal recycles forever" promote the use of reusable metal packaging in the circular economy with their activities. In view of the future requirements of the EU packaging regulation (PPWR), reusable systems will become considerably more important: A provisional compromise between the EU Parliament and the member states provides for drastically increased reusable quotas for a variety of industrial and commercial transport and sales packaging.

For trade between companies in a member state and for exchanges between company locations in the EU, the reusable quotas are to rise to 100 per cent from 2030 – with significant consequences for the beverage industry in particular. Stainless steel KEGs are already a tried-and-tested solution that is ideal for a wide range of beverages.