Columbia brewery launches sustainable digital can printing

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Columbia’s Peak Drift Brewing Co. recently launched Peak Press, its new sustainable digital can printing program.

The program harnesses the power of the brewery’s new state-of-the-art, 17-ton, high-volume commercial printer to print graphics directly onto cans, making all cans completely recyclable.

Equipped with the cutting-edge Hinterkopf digital can printer, which is currently the only one of its kind in the Southeast, Peak Drift can achieve printing speeds of up to 350 cans per minute, ensuring efficient production, company officials said.

“Due to the nature of small production runs in the craft beverage industry, many cans are printed with labels or shrink wraps, which unfortunately, are not recyclable,” says Sara Middleton Styles, co-owner of Peak Drift Brewing Co. “Our new printing initiative aligns with our core values of environmental stewardship and customer-centric innovation. We are excited to offer our customers, along with others in the industry, a more sustainable option for craft beverages.”

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The launch of this program marks a significant milestone in Peak Drift's ongoing mission to revolutionize the craft beverage industry. By pioneering eco-friendly printing practices, Peak Drift is now making its printing solutions available to other breweries and special events — with the hopes to expand its reach in the future.

“The best part of this program is that we aren’t limiting this technology just to Peak Drift,” said Jason Snyder, Peak Drift’s vice president for sales and operations. “Our commitment to sustainable printing goes beyond our own practices. By embracing advanced digital technologies and opening our printing capabilities to others, our hope is to reduce the beverage industry’s environmental footprint, while also encouraging creative and commemorative can design.”

All Peak Drift products moving forward will be printed with this new printer, including the company’s recently launched summer rotating series, which features the Peak Drift Summer Lager, Passionately Sour Ale and Waterfront IPA. Additionally, Peak Drift has started working with local breweries and events to print commemorative cans, including Rosewood Crawfish Festival, the Therapy Place’s Miracles in Motion 5K and Craft, and Draft’s 9^th anniversary, among others.

Company officials said this new innovation reinforces the company's commitment to environmental responsibility and also enables them to tap into the increasing market demand for sustainable printing solutions within the craft beverage industry.

Peak Drift products are available in restaurants, bars and stores across the Midlands area and at Smoked in Columbia, which houses Peak Drift’s microbrewery.

The brewing company was founded in 2021. Its 64,000-square-foot brewery and entertainment complex located at 3452 Main St. is set to open to the public later this year.