Expanded mandate of the former Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE), and EXTR:ACT, welcomes an accomplished sustainability and policy leader to drive forward an accelerated agenda for fibre-based food and beverage packaging.
The Food and Beverage Carton Alliance (FBCA) to announced the appointment of Sebastian Bartels as its new Director General. A recognised leader in sustainability, Bartels brings two decades of international experience driving strategic change across a wide range of industries. He joins FBCA at a pivotal moment, as the Alliance expands beyond Europe into its global role in building resilient food and beverage systems and advancing the transition to a low-carbon, circular economy.
“We are excited to welcome Sebastian,” said Patrick Verhelst, President of the Board of FBCA. “His deep expertise in sustainability and broad experience across sectors and geographies make him the right person to lead FBCA’s next chapter. We are confident he will amplify the Alliance’s impact and its future reach beyond EU-from grassroots engagement to international policy dialogue and circular value chain data expertise.”
Bartels brings a wealth of experience in leadership across sectors including manufacturing, logistics, packaging, FMCG, and energy-gaining firsthand insight into operational and sustainability challenges across diverse markets. He has held senior roles in several countries and is known for his collaborative approach across business, policy, and civil society.
Most recently, he led the Sustainability Services focus area at DEKRA, overseeing a global portfolio of more than 500 services that support clients in sustainable business practices, product sustainability, and the energy transition. Prior to that, he served as Head of Global Quality & Safety Strategy at the global transportation, logistics, and infrastructure group Deutsche Bahn, where he was responsible for international governance in risk, safety, and quality management.
In addition to his business background, Bartels brings political and civil service experience, including six years as an elected city councillor and leadership roles in national and international industry bodies.
“Joining FBCA is a tremendous opportunity,” said Bartels. “Food and beverage cartons play a critical role in reducing waste and supporting secure, low-carbon food systems. I look forward to working with our members to strengthen the industry’s global voice and accelerate innovation across the value chain.”
His appointment marks a new phase of strategic growth for FBCA, reinforcing its mission to promote safe, circular, and sustainable packaging with purpose solutions in Europe and across key international markets.
About FBCA
The Food and Beverage Carton Alliance (FBCA) is a global platform uniting food and beverage carton manufacturers and their paperboard suppliers. Formed from the merger of ACE and EXTR:ACT, FBCA advocates for food and beverage cartons as safe, circular, and sustainable packaging solutions that contribute to resilient food systems and low-carbon, circular economies.
The Food and Beverage Carton Alliance (FBCA), an association formed from the merger of two established organisations, announced its launch as a unified platform dedicated to advancing beverage cartons as essential, renewable, and circular packaging solutions.
The organisation is the result of the merger of ACE (The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment) and EXTR:ACT, two European associations that have championed beverage cartons as a sustainable packaging solution and the industry’s work in ensuring they are collected and recycled.
With a vision to expand beyond Europe, FBCA aspires to unite beverage carton manufacturers and their paperboard suppliers in driving sustainable packaging solutions that enhance food security, reduce waste, and advance low-carbon circular economies.
An ambition for a sustainable future
Food and beverage cartons as essential components of resilient food systems. By leveraging renewable resources and continuously improving their environmental performance, food and beverage cartons play a crucial role in extending the shelf life of perishable foods, reducing waste, and ensuring safety and quality for consumers worldwide.
“Our industry is working tirelessly in designing fully renewable and sustainable packaging solutions that meet the needs of both consumers and the planet,” Patrick Verhelst, President of the FBCA Board said. “We are excited to expand globally and champion the role of beverage cartons in building a more resilient, low-carbon future.”
New board announced
The newly elected FBCA Board representing its five founding members includes:
- Patrick Verhelst, President FBCA and Senior Director of Business Development, Elopak;
- Ulrika Wedberg, Vice President FBCA and Executive Vice-President Sustainability & Public Affairs, Billerud;
- Karina Boers, Head of Sustainability Development, SIG;
- Tamara Bullock, Director Corporate Affairs, Europe and Americas, Tetra Pak;
- Erik Hallberg, Vice-President Coating, Converting and Digital Technology, Stora Enso
“Through FBCA’s Global Centers of Expertise, Advocacy and Communications, we will provide the evidence and benchmarks needed to lead the way in sustainability progress,” said Annick Carpentier, FBCA Executive Director of Global Advocacy. “We look forward to working with global partners in driving a circular bioeconomy, maximising functionality and efficiency along the life cycle.”
FBCA unites industry leaders and global stakeholders in ensuring the long-term viability of a thriving food and beverage carton sector, optimising the performance of the life cycle of food and packaging systems. Together, FBCA will contribute its knowledge, expertise and leadership to develop robust regulatory frameworks for food packaging worldwide.
Lotus Beverage Alliance offers highly customised beverage manufacturing products to promote growth in the craft beverage industry
Lotus Beverage Alliance, a collective of experienced craft beverage equipment manufacturing companies, announced that it has officially launched as a company. Six leading American craft beverage equipment suppliers have merged in a USD 100 million deal to create Lotus Beverage Alliance. The combined capabilities of Lotus Beverage Alliance will enable beverage manufacturers of all sizes to access the most comprehensive array of products spanning every step of production for craft beer, wine, hard cider, spirits, cold brew coffee, ready-to-drink cocktails, kombucha, CBD/THC-infused drinks, and sake beverages.
The six merged companies, Alpha Brewing Operations, GW Kent, Twin Monkeys, Stout Tanks and Kettles, Brewmation, and Automated Extractions, are leaders in craft beverage equipment manufacturing and offer essential infrastructure and technology for diversifying the craft beverage industry. The five founders of the six companies will remain in senior leadership positions at Lotus: Matt Rennerfeldt, John Watt, Kevin Weaver, Josh Van Riper, and Randy Reichwage. John Ansbro, an industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience in equipment manufacturing, has been named Chief Executive Officer for Lotus. Ansbro has held senior executive positions at Alfa Laval, Johnson Controls, and the GEA Group.
“Lotus has everything craft beverage creators need to produce the amazing artisanal products they love, for people who love them,” said John Ansbro, CEO of Lotus Beverage Alliance. “Our team’s proven industry experience includes a deep bench of experts helping to optimise the production of handcrafted beverages for consumers to enjoy.”
Lotus Beverage Alliance brings these leading equipment makers under one roof to become the only end-to-end provider dedicated to crafting possibilities for beverage makers, from nationally-distributed beverage purveyors to the everyday craft enthusiast. Lotus Beverage Alliance produces 1,500+ top-shelf products, including turn-key brewhouse production equipment, 304 stainless steel conical fermenters, brew kettles, IBC totes, multi-capacity tanks, mash tuns, brite tanks, canning systems, automation and control systems, packaging, thermal processes and sanitation equipment, raw ingredient supply, parts, and more.
In another industry first, Lotus introduced a proprietary financing program that offers customers affordable financing options, removing cost barriers for startups and smaller beverage producers. Credit approvals typically take less than 24 hours to provide clients with maximum flexibility.
“What a bold vision to pull together such well-respected leaders of each of their respective craft beverage supplier channel segments. The result of this merger for craft beverage makers is sure to be exponential growth and continued beverage innovation,” said Banjo Bandolas, Director of Advertising and Sales at ProBrewer.com. “Lotus appears to be a first-mover by creating a one-stop-shop for craft brewers and companies moving into ‘beyond beer’ products. I look forward to seeing where it evolves.”
Beverage makers who select Lotus Beverage Alliance as their trusted equipment partner can expect:
- Responsive and expert customer service
- A one-stop-shop supply chain for all production needs
- Ready-to-ship production parts and equipment
- High-performance equipment with extended life cycles
- Seamless equipment integration with several third-party brands
- Opportunities for reduced operating costs and downtime through automation
- Greater uptimes and efficiencies in production processes
- Post-purchase technical and operations support
- Proprietary purchase financing program with typical approval in 24 hours
Lotus Beverage Alliance offers extensive support for startups and scale-ups, including:
- Brewing and Distilling
- Quick Ship Equipment and Parts
- Packaging
- Automation and Controls
- Extraction Processing
- Beverage Production Support
Following the six-way merger, the Lotus Beverage Alliance ownership structure includes the founders from all six businesses. Additionally, Lotus has implemented an employee ownership program, at no cost to the employees. Employee ownership has been extended to every single employee throughout the organisation. Research has shown that broad-based employee ownership programs improve worker retention, reduce income disparity, and result in higher margins, as well as improved growth and operating efficiencies across various aspects of a business. Lotus collaborated with Ownership Works in this employee ownership program’s creation. The Lotus merger was facilitated by Ronin Equity Partners, a New York-based investment firm with a long-term growth focus. Ronin is also an investor in Lotus.
About Lotus Beverage Alliance:
Lotus Beverage Alliance is a collective group of experienced companies with extensive knowledge and professional insight into the craft beverage industry. The organisation was formed to bring excitement and resources to craft brewing companies by providing an advanced and comprehensive product line, knowledgeable technical guidance, immediate equipment and parts availability, and an excellent customer service team.
ACE, the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment, is pleased to announce that the recycling rate for beverage cartons in the EU281 rose to 51 % in 2019. This represents a continued year-on-year increase in the EU beverage carton recycling rate.
“We are pleased that the steady annual increase of the recycling rate for beverage cartons in 2019 surpassed 50 %,” said Annick Carpentier, Director General of ACE. “This is proof of our industry’s efforts and enhances the message that beverage cartons are recyclable and are being recycled at scale in Europe.”
Beverage cartons, made largely from renewable materials, contribute positively to a low carbon circular economy. The industry is driving beverage carton recycling across Europe, committed to efforts that support the increase of the recycling rate in all EU Member States. The industry calls on policymakers at the European and national levels to assure that beverage cartons are collected for recycling separately, and to support a collection target to ensure beverage cartons are collected for recycling.
“With an upcoming EU legislative agenda towards more sustainable packaging, the beverage carton is well positioned with a 51 % recycling rate. This is an opportunity to inform policy- makers at all levels that beverage cartons are a safe, circular and sustainable packaging solution with a low carbon footprint, and how the beverage carton you use at your table can be easily collected and recycled,” continued Ms. Carpentier.
1Data includes information from the United Kingdom, which at that time was still an EU Member State.
