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'Smart' glass bottle handling makes an impact (sidebar)

SBA plays central role in Sweden’s returnable glass bottle system

The Swedish Brewers Association’s role is significant in that returnable glass bottles are by far Sweden’s dominant package used for beer, soft drinks, and mineral water. One-way or nonreturnable glass bottles represent only 1% of the glass beverage market in the country, according to Sven Romander, the association’s technical manager.

Stockholm-based SBA is a trade organization of Swedish breweries, soft drink, and mineral water producers. “Our members range from big companies like Carlsberg and Coca-Cola to very small local brewers, all in Sweden,” says Romander.

Beverage producers pay membership fees to SBA based on their sales. The more the beverage company sells, the higher its membership fee. Membership Euros allow companies to use the system’s glass bottles and plastic crates rather than having to buy them on their own. That provides a financial incentive, Romander says.

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