The pubs fell silent, and with them the characteristic sound of pounding collisions. All the more, however, you can hear the sweet carillon of clinking beer bottles bought at home. However, connoisseurs who enjoy beer from Pilsen may be a little confused at the shelves in the coming weeks. In the name of sustainability, Plzeňský Prazdroj is changing the appearance of classic glass packaging for Pilsner Urquell beer.
The traditional green and gold colors remain, but the aluminum foil and plastic stickers disappear, replacing the paper labels on the bottles. In addition, some new design elements will be added to them, while the innovated appearance will be valid both for bottles intended for the domestic market and those heading abroad.
“We end up with foil and plastic on all our bottles. For our customers, this may seem like a small change to the bottle, but the environmental benefits of this decision are huge. ” adds to the change of labels Václav Berka, head emeritus of Prazdroj.
Olive green glass complemented by silver or gold tinfoil neck has a tradition in the brewery dating back to the last century. During that time, the appearance of the Pilsner Urquell bottle has undergone significant changes, which await it even now. The change of the so-called adjustment of the bottle, ie its overall appearance, should come already during this month.
Comparison of current and new bottle design
–
Thanks to modifications, the bottles should be fully recyclable and the company will save up to 106 tons of non-recyclable waste per year. Both aluminum foil and plastic stickers have complicated the recycling of the paper labels of the bottles themselves, which are the most common packaging in which Pilsner Urquell is bottled.
Both elements on the packaging were mainly decorative. The so-called tinfoil scarf, today made of aluminum, adds exclusivity to the packaging, as is customary, for example, with champagne bottles. At the same time, however, it also protects the throat from dirt.
The decision goes hand in hand with Plzeňský Prazdroj’s conscious approach to sustainability and ecology. Its goal is to ensure carbon neutrality in all its breweries by 2030 and to be carbon neutral by 2050 across the entire supply and demand chain. Every year, it also strives to reduce the amount of water and energy consumed, reuses production by-products and reduces the percentage of waste produced.
Recognizable everywhere in the world
In addition to ecological changes, the brewery also adds new design elements to the bottle. “In addition to the significant environmental benefits, we have also sensitively innovated the design of the bottles. This now further emphasizes the uniqueness of Pilsner Urquell beer. We provided the bottles with an embossing called embossing, which emphasizes the brand’s symbols. This technique is used for the first time in a sophisticated and unique crown cap on the market, ” states in report Zuzana Dudová, senior brand manager of the Pilsner Urquell brand.
Pilsner Urquell has an exceptional position in the world of beer. After all, Pilsner-type beer is the globally used collective designation for all light bottom-fermented beers prepared according to the Pilsen recipe. That is why we can come across terms like Pils or Pilsener everywhere in the world, which refer to this type of beer.
–
The most significant change took place on the neck of the bottle
–
And it’s not just about the name. Plzeňský Prazdroj exports its beer to 50 countries around the world, where it will now be easier to identify. “The new design also unifies the design of Pilsner Urquell bottles in all countries – so people can easily recognize our beer in shops and restaurants around the world.” adds Zuzana Dudová.
According to the brewery, interest in bottled beer is growing, due to closed pubs. As stated in his report, sales in this segment decreased by 30%. In the numbers, the pubs drafted 111 million fewer beers than in the previous year. Total sales fell by 8% with 6.69 million hectoliters of beer sold in the Czech Republic alone.
However, the volume of beer sold in stores grew by 7%, with the biggest growth coming from bottled beer. However, we must not forget that in these numbers Pilsner Urquell also includes sales of other brands, which it stores under its wings, such as Radegast, Gambrinus, Velkopopovický kozel and Birell.
–
