Sustainability by Design: How Drake’s Brewing Made Packaging a Strategic Priority
6/13/2025
In a recent episode of Produced and Delivered, host Matthew Tilley, RRD’s Vice President of Growth Marketing, sat down with Anthony Raggio, Director of Packaging and Logistics, and Hal McConnellogue, Sustainability Manager at Drake’s Brewing Company to understand how sustainability is more than an important value — it’s a business imperative.
A sustainability success story
The Drake’s Brewing story centers around the evolution of a product called Juicy Hoot, a hazy IPA launched in 2023. Like many modern craft beers, Juicy Hoot originally came in 16 oz. cans with plastic toppers and BOPP labels. As the product scaled, however, Anthony and Hal saw an opportunity to rethink their entire packaging model. The result? A transition to 12 oz. printed cans in FSC-certified paperboard boxes — fully recyclable, highly brandable, and a significant step toward Drake’s sustainability goals.
As Hal says, “Sustainability is a full-time job.” And while smaller breweries may not have the luxury of a dedicated sustainability team, Hal emphasized that embedding sustainability into every production decision — from label adhesives to vendor selection — is key.
The power of choosing the right partners
In the episode, Anthony emphasizes that the true breakthrough came when they aligned with partners who shared their values. “You want support from them as well because you're inevitably going to have issues. You want them to be not just a vendor, but a resource.”
One of the most eye-opening insights? Many consumers — and even brewers — don’t realize that cans with plastic shrink sleeves or BOPP labels often can’t be recycled.
Strategic sustainability
As Hal notes, “It takes seven gallons of water to make one gallon of beer.” Every design decision matters when you’re working to reduce overall environmental impact.
The key takeaway? Sustainability doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by design — and by making it everyone’s responsibility.
Listen to the episode
Want the full story on Juicy Hoot’s evolution and Drake’s strategic approach to sustainability? Listen to the full episode here: rrd.com/resources/podcast/sustainability-on-tap-for-drakes-brewing
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