a new brochure from the washington, d.c.based american institute for packaging and the environment ameripen portrays what the group calls the sustainability benefits of different beverage package types and the materials from which these containers are produced.the brochure, titled beverage packaging delivering taste, safety, and sustainability, says americans each drink about 175 gallons of beverages each year, &ldquomuch of which is delivered in plastic jugs, aluminum and steel cans, glass bottles, gable top and aseptic cartons and flexible pouches.&rdquosource ameripenaccording to ameripen, such packaging &ldquoreduces economic and environmental waste by matching the amount of beverage to be served or properly stored with the packaging type needed to effectively and efficiently deliver that product.&rdquoregarding recycling, the group says, &ldquobeverage containers also provide benefits in line with the epa&rsquos &lsquoreduce, reuse, and recycle&rsquo waste reduction hierarchy. aluminum and steel beverage containers are among the top recycled items in epa surveys. paperboard and plastic containers offer significant source reduction value and glass packaging is both recyclable and reusable.&rdquoaccording to donna dempsey, executive director of ameripen, &ldquobeverage packaging is a good example of fitting the right material to the right package for the right application. it works hard to deliver on all three legs of the sustainability stool&mdashsocial, economic and environmental performance.&rdquothe fourpage brochure can be found online athttpameripen.orgwpcontentuploadsbeveragebrochure4.17.15.pdf.ameripen is a packaging policy advocacy organization whose members include packaging manufacturers and consumer products companies. 
