Transporting beer? Better do it sustainably: Grolsch introduces new pallets made from recycled plastic.

The Dutch brewery Grolsch demonstrates how circular principles can be applied in logistics – with new, lighter pallets for reusable kegs made from 100 percent recycled plastic. 

Pallets are an essential part of any brewery’s equipment: they hold barrels, crates, or containers. Often these are traditional wooden pallets, but increasingly plastic versions are used that are more durable and hygienic. Grolsch is now taking things a step further by placing its reusable kegs on pallets made entirely from post-consumer recycled material – that is, from used plastic bottles and packaging. 

The previous pallets were considered heavy, cumbersome, and difficult to procure. The new models are a full 12 kilograms lighter, reducing transport weight and emissions, and therefore energy use and costs. They are produced by Dutch packaging manufacturer Schoeller Allibert using a high-pressure injection moulding process and feature a honeycomb structure that combines strength with low weight. 

According to the manufacturer, the choice of material results in a CO₂ reduction of up to 83 percent compared with pallets made from virgin plastic. “Replacing the old pallets was the perfect opportunity to fully integrate sustainability,” says Joost Nawijn, Packaging Material Development Specialist at Koninklijke Grolsch.

The new generation of keg pallets is not only more sustainable but also offers functional advantages: they are easier to handle with a forklift, stackable, and therefore more efficient during return transport. This saves space, time, and additional CO2 emissions. At the end of their life cycle, Schoeller Allibert recycles the pallets again – a closed-loop system that conserves resources. “Our solutions are precisely tailored to Grolsch’s requirements,” adds Vincent Vos, Head of Design at Schoeller Allibert. “From material selection to practical testing – everything is designed for efficiency and durability.” 

Plastic pallets are already well established in the brewing industry. What makes this project special is not the idea itself, but the consistent implementation of circular principles: 100 percent post-consumer recycled material, energy-efficient production, and take-back for reuse. In doing so, Grolsch goes beyond the industry standard – showing how sustainable innovation can emerge even in seemingly everyday transport packaging. For the brewery, this represents another step on its path toward the Net Zero target by 2030.