Supply Chain
From grain to glass, the supply chain is the backbone of the brewing and pub industry.
From ensuring efficiency in brewing to the quality and consistency of the beer served at the bar, we work closely with members to develop practical policies to support robust supply chains.
The container master database is an informal website that records the container colour bands used to identify the containers of brewers across the UK. Registering colours is not mandatory but is strongly advised to ensure they can be identified and more easily returned should they fall outside of regular supply chain routes or are recovered as lost or abandoned containers.
Brewers can contact the BBPA or SIBA to register a set of colours. All efforts will be made to ensure that colour combinations are unique and to avoid confusion in identifying the owner of recovered containers.
From barley and hops in the field, to the glass of beer in your local pub, the chain of industries behind this unique British product has a major impact on economic and social life in rural Britain – something that’s not been at the heart of policymaking as we look to grow the economy. Grain to Glass aims to address this, and to promote policies that will support Britain’s barley farmers, hop growers, maltsters, brewers, publicans and beer drinkers.
This Circular complements Circular 418, Keg and Cask Supply Chain Best Practice, which defines protocols aimed at reducing container losses. This additional circular provides best practice guidance in relation to the disposal and scrapping of kegs and casks.
BBPA has developed this Circular to define the protocols by which companies can work together in the beer supply chain in order to reduce container losses.
Working with stakeholders from across the industry, including SIBA, this Circular captures protocols and best practice measures relevant to wholesalers, distributors, multiple retailers and individual outlets, including a checklist for each group of stakeholders detailing the key actions required.
We ensure regular contact and engagement with our members to maintain a good understanding of and ensure:
- Access to key ingredients and raw materials
- Control of cost and operational efficiency
- Ability for brewers to deliver to pubs and for pubs to service their customers
Ensuring best practice in sustainability is important to the pub and brewing sector and we work closely with our members to:
- Ensure local supply (final products and key ingredients) as a specific example of circular economy
- Promote the sustainability benefits from use of returnable assets – large containers
Find out more about our work on environment & sustainability
As the problem of keg and cask losses has grown, it has become apparent that an industry accredited and audited system for disposing of casks and kegs is essential to reduce the risk of misappropriation and enhance the chances of a successful prosecution in the event of illicit handling and disposing of containers.
The objective of the attached best practice is to ensure:
- Containers are only sold or scrapped by the containers’ legitimate owner or their appointed representative.
- Containers sold for scrapping are actually scrapped.
All scrap yards seeking accreditation must be sponsored by a brewery, ideally their closest local brewer. If BBPA members wish to nominate their local scrap yard for accreditation they should first provide a copy of the latest version of TC-423 to the yard before contacting Steve Livens at the BBPA with all necessary contact details who will coordinate the process further.
Kegwatch Ltd, on behalf of the industry, will carry out the accreditation process. Once completed, details will be posted on the BBPA website. Whilst we would recommend that brewers use only accredited scrap yards, the scheme is entirely voluntary and brewers are in no way obliged to do so.
For more information read more here.