ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Inside New York's oldest brewery, new changes are coming to the beers you love. 

What You Need To Know

  • The next time you grab a six-pack of Genesee beer, you’ll see some changes

  • The new material for six-pack beer carriers is made of a plastic that breaks down in sunlight faster compared to non-recycled ones

  • The company plans to offer a 100% recyclable alternative by 2025

The new six-pack beer carriers look the same, but it's the material that's different.

“They're made with 50% post-consumer recycle, or PCR, plastic," Tanner Jubenville with Genesee Brewery said.

It's a plastic that breaks down in sunlight faster compared to non-recycled ones.

It’s also more environmentally friendly to make. 

“We invest in a lot of machinery much more efficient so that we can be much more sustainable," Jubenville said. "And the same goes for our packaging."

The carriers are made by a company called Hi-Cone.

Genesee might be New York's oldest, but it isn’t the only brewery in the state using the eco-rings. Labatt started using them in 2021. 

Hi-Cone carriers use 90% less energy and 73% less water to make compared to regular ones. 

The company plans to deliver a 100% recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable alternative for ring carriers by 2025.

“It might be a small step, but everything adds up," Jubenville said. "So we're just doing what we can every day to make great beer."

It's a great beer that’s becoming even greater for the environment.