#us beer industry market share

[hritika1]

Indian Beer market analysis 2027

India's wine market is evolving, with a dynamic beer market overview revealing substantial growth. The beer market's current vitality hints at a promising and robust future.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Dow promised to turn sneakers into playground surfaces, then dumped them in Indonesia

Dow Chemicals plastered Singapore with ads for its sneaker recycling program, promising to turn old shoes into playground tracks. But the shoes it collected in its “recycling” bins were illegally dumped in Indonesia. This isn’t an aberration: it’s how nearly all plastic recycling has always worked.

If you’d like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here’s a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/26/career-criminals/#fool-me-twice-three-times-four-times-a-hundred-times

Plastic recycling’s origin story starts in 1973, when Exxon’s scientists concluded that plastic recycling would never, ever be cost-effective (#ExxonKnew about this, too). Exxon sprang into action: they popularized the recycling circular arrow logo and backed “anti-littering” campaigns that blamed the rising tide of immortal, toxic garbage on peoples’ laziness.

https://pluralistic.net/2020/09/14/they-knew/#doing-it-again

Remember the campaign where an Italian guy dressed like a Native American shed a single tear as he contemplated plastic litter? Funded by the plastic industry, as a way of shifting blame for plastic waste from the wealthy, powerful corporations who lied about plastics recycling to the individuals who believed their lies:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-indian-crying-environment-ads-pollution-1123-20171113-story.html

When I was a kid in Ontario, we had centralized, regulated, reusable bottle depots — beer and soda bottles came in standard sizes, differentiated by paper labels that could be pressure-washed off. When you were done with your bottle, you returned it for a deposit and it got washed and returned to bottlers to be refilled again and again and again.

After intense lobbying from soda companies, brewers and the plastic industry, that program was replaced with curbside “blue boxes” that promised to recycle our plastic waste. 90% of the plastics created has never been — and will never be — recycled. Today, the plastic industry plans on tripling the amount of single-use plastic in use worldwide:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/04/26/plastic-fatalistic/#recycled-lies

You know those ads from companies like Bluetriton (formerly “Nestle Waters”) that promise that your single-use plastic bottles are “100% recyclable…and can be used for new bottles and all sorts of new, reusable things?”

Bluetriton is a private equity-backed rollup that has absorbed most of the bottled water companies you’re familiar with, including Poland Spring, Pure Life, Splash, Ozarka, and Arrowhead. When they were sued in DC for making false claims about their “recyclable” water-bottles, their defense was that these were “non-actionable puffery.” According to Bluetriton, when it described itself as “a guardian of sustainable resources” and “a company who, at its core, cares about water,” it was being “vague and hyperbolic.”

https://pluralistic.net/2022/04/26/plastic-fatalistic/#recycled-lies

With this high standard for plastic recycling, Dow’s Singapore scam shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it seems to have surprised the government of Singapore. Writing for Reuters, Joe Brock, Yuddy Cahya Budiman and Joseph Campbell describe how they caught Dow red-handed:

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/global-plastic-dow-shoes/

The method is actually pretty straightforward: Reuters hid tracking devices in cavities in the soles of sneakers, dropped them in one of Dow’s collection bins, and then followed them. The shoes were passed onto Dow’s subcontractor, Yok Impex Pte Ltd, who sent them hopping from island to island throughout Indonesia, until they ended up in junk-markets.

Not all the shoes, though — one pair was simply moved from Dow’s collection bin to a donation bin at a Singaporean community center. Of the 11 pairs that Reuters tracked, not one ended up at a recycling facility. So much for Dow’s slogan: “Others see an old shoe. We see the future.”

Dow blamed all this on Yok Impex, but didn’t explain why its “recycling” program involved a company whose sole trade is exporting used clothing. Dow promised to cancel its deal with Yok Impex, but Yok Impex’s accountant told Reuters that the deal would be remain in place until the end of the contract. Yok Impex, meanwhile, shifted the blame to the low-waged women who sort through the clothing donations it takes in from across Singapore.

Indonesia bans bulk imports of used clothes, on the grounds that used clothes are unhygenic, displace the local textiles industry, and shipments contain high volumes of waste that ends up in Indonesian incinerators, landfills and rivers.

In other words, Singaporeans thought they were saving the planet by putting their shoes in Dow bins, but they were really sending those shoes on a long journey to an unlicensed dump. Dow enlisted schoolchildren in used-shoe collection drives, making upbeat videos that featured students like Zhang Youjia boasting that they “contributed 15 pairs of shoes.”

Dow does this all the time. In 2021, Dow’s “breakthrough technology to turn plastic waste into clean fuel” in Idaho was revealed to be a plain old incinerator:

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/environment-plastic-oil-recycling/

Also in 2021, in India, a Dow program to “use high-tech machinery to transform the [plastic from the Ganges] into clean fuel” was revealed to have ceased operations — but was still collecting plastic and promising that it was all being turned into fuel:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-environment-plastic-insight-idUSKBN29N024

Dow operates a nearly identical “shoe recycling” program in neighboring Malaysia, and did not return Reuters’ requests for comment as to whether the shoes collected for “recycling” in the far more populous nation were also being illegally dumped offshore.

The global business lobby loves the idea of “personal responsibility” and its evil twin, “caveat emptor.” Its pet economists worship the idea of “revealed preferences,” claiming that when we use plastic, we may claim that we don’t want to have our bodies poisoned with immortal, toxic microplastics, that we don’t want our land and waters despoiled — but we actually love it, because otherwise we’d “vote with our wallets” for something else.

The obvious advantage of telling people to vote with their wallets is that the less money you have in your wallet, the fewer votes you get. Companies like Dow have used their access to the capital markets (a fancy phrase for “rich people”) to gobble up their competitors, eliminating “wasteful competition” and piling up massive profits. Those profits are laundered into policy — like replacing Ontario’s zero-waste refillable bottle system with a “recycling” system that sent plastics to the ends of the Earth to be set on fire or buried or dumped in the sea.

The ruling class’s pet economists have a name for this policy laundering: they call it “regulatory capture.” Now, when you hear “regulatory capture,” you might think about companies that get so big that they are able to boss governments around, with the obvious answer that companies need to be regulated before they get too big to jail:

https://doctorow.medium.com/small-government-fd5870a9462e

But that’s not how elite economists talk about regulatory capture: for them, capture starts with the very existence of regulators. For them, any government agency that proposes to protect the public from corporate fraud and murder inevitably becomes an agent of the corporations it is supposed to rein in, so the only answer is to eliminate regulators altogether:

https://doctorow.medium.com/regulatory-capture-59b2013e2526

This nihilism lets rich people blame the rest of us for their sins: “if you didn’t want your children to roast or freeze to death in the climate emergency, you should have sold your car and used the subway (that we bribed your city not to build).”

Nihilism is contagious. Think of the music industry: before Napster, 80% of the music ever recorded was not for sale, banished to the scrapheap of history and the vaults of record companies who paid farcically low sums to their artists.

During the File Sharing Wars, listeners were excoriated for failing to pay for music — much of which wasn’t for sale in the first place. But today, fans overwhelmingly pay for Spotify, a streaming service that notoriously pays musicians infinitesimal sums for their work.

Spotify is a creature of the Big Three labels — Sony, Universal and Warner — who own 70% of all the world’s recorded music copyrights and 65% of all the world’s music publishing. The rock-bottom per-stream prices that Spotify pays were set by the Big Three. Why would the labels want less money from Spotify?

Simple: as co-owners of Spotify, they make more money when Spotify pays less for music. Musicians have a claim on the money they take out of Spotify as royalties — but dividends, buybacks and capital gains from Spotify are the labels’ to use as they see fit. They can share that bounty with some artists, all artists, or no artists.

Not only that, but the Big Three’s deal with Spotify includes a “most favored nation” clause, which means that the independent artists who aren’t under Sony/UMG/Warner’s thumb have to take the rock-bottom rate the Big Three insisted on — likewise the small labels who compete with the Big Three. The difference is that none of these artists and small labels have massive portfolios of Spotify stock, nor do they get free advertising on Spotify, or free inclusion on hot Spotify playlists, or monthly minimum payouts from Spotify.

The idea that we shop at the wrong kind of monopolist in the wrong way is a recipe for absolute despair. It doesn’t matter whether you listen to music with the Big Tech-owned monopoly service (Youtube) or the Big Content-owned monopoly service (Spotify). The money you hand over to these giant companies goes to artists the same way that the sneakers you put in a Dow collection bin goes to a recycling plant.

Think of the billions of human labor hours we all spent washing and sorting our plastics for a recycling program that didn’t exist and will never exist — imagine if we’d spent that time and energy demanding that our politicians hold petrochemical companies to account instead.

At the end of Break ’Em Up, Zephyr Teachout’s outstanding 2020 book on monopolies, Teachout has some choice words for “consumerism” as a theory of change. She writes that if you’re on your way to a protest against a new Amazon warehouse but you never make it because you waste too much time looking for a mom-and-pop stationers to sell you a marker to write your protest sign, Amazon wins:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/07/29/break-em-up/#break-em-up

The problem isn’t that you shop the wrong way. Yes, by all means, support the creators and producers you care about in the way that they prefer, but keep your eye on the prize. Structural problems don’t have individual solutions. The problem isn’t that you have chosen single-use plastics — it’s that in our world everything for sale is packaged in single-use plastics. The problem isn’t that you’ve bought a subscription to the wrong music streaming service — it’s that labels have been allowed to buy all their competitors, creators’ unions have been smashed and degraded, and giant accounting scams by big companies generate minuscule fines.

The good news is that after 40 years of despair inducing regulatory nihilism and “vote with your wallet” talk, we’re finally paying attention to systemic problems, with a new generation of trustbusting radicals working around the world to end corporate impunity.

Dow is a repeat offender. A repeat, repeat offender. Chrissakes, they’re the linear descendants of Union Carbide, the company that poisoned Bhopal:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster

They shouldn’t be trusted to run a lemonade stand, let alone a “recycling” program. The same goes for Big Tech and Big Content company and the markets for creative labor. These companies have repeatedly demonstrated their unfitness, their habitual deception and immorality. These companies have captured their regulators, repeatedly, so we need better regulators — and weaker companies.

The thing I love about Teachout’s book is that it talks about what we should be demanding from our governments — it’s a manifesto for a movement against corporate power, not a movement for “responsible consumerism.” That was the template that Rebecca Giblin and I followed when we wrote Chokepoint Capitalism, our book about the brutal, corrupt creative labor market:

https://chokepointcapitalism.com/

We have a chapter on Spotify (multiple chapters, in fact!). For our audiobook, we made that chapter a “Spotify Exclusive” — it’s the only part of the book you can get on Spotify, and it’s free:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/09/12/streaming-doesnt-pay/#stunt-publishing

Next Thu (Mar 2) I’ll be in Brussels for Antitrust, Regulation and the Political Economy, along with a who’s-who of European and US trustbusters. It’s livestreamed, and both in-person and virtual attendance are free. On Fri (Mar 3), I’ll be in Graz for the Elevate Festival.

[Image ID: A woman kneeling to tie her running shoe. She stands on a background of plastic waste. In the top right corner is the logo for Dow chemicals. Below it is the Dow slogan, 'Others see an old shoe. We see the future.']

[jensenackles-daily]

familybusinessbeerco: FBBC Friends and Family BIG NEWS!!! We are thrilled to share that our beer has been making its way across Austin, San Antonio, and Houston as of last month! Our goal is to spread our beer far and wide, reaching every Texan and beyond. By early 2025, we aim to have our presence established throughout Texas! As we continue our search for the perfect taproom location in Austin, please note that we will be temporarily closing our Dripping Springs location beginning today while we search for a new spot closer to town. Our focus is set on efficiently distributing our products, ensuring that we deliver the freshest FB beer to our valued partners both on- and off-premises. You can expect to see us more frequently in retail chains, conducting in-store demonstrations and participating in local craft beer festivals. Additionally, we are in the process of reintroducing our seasonal rotations and rotating IPA series, so be on the lookout for these offerings in the market. We are dedicated to advocating for legislative reforms in the craft beer industry to benefit Texas breweries. With great excitement, we anticipate the future of Family Business as we venture into new markets with our acclaimed flagship beers and seasonal brews! 🍻 (x)

[nwbeerguide]

Maui Brewing Company raises $1.5 million for Maui wildfire relief via their Kōkua Project.

image courtesy Maui Brewing Company Press Release Kihei, Hawaii … In response to the wildfire tragedies across the island of Maui, Maui Brewing Company spearheaded the Kōkua Project, a collaborative beer effort inspired by Sierra Nevada’s Resilience project of 2018 to raise money for those in need. Translated as “extending help to others” in the Hawaiian language, the Kōkua Project was touted as “one beer, brewed by many, to support the people of Maui”. Over 700 breweries across the United States and internationally participated in the project which began in late August to raise funds for the people of Maui. While Maui Brewing Company coordinated the efforts and provided the recipe for their suggested brew, brewing material partners jumped in with support by donating the yeast, hops, malts, and more to breweries that reached out for supplies. Ongoing email marketing kept brewing participants up-to-date on recipes, participating vendors, foundation information, events, marketing assets and logos, tap handles, and merchandising kits “From New Zealand to Japan and every US state in between, the brewing community has come together in a powerful and humbling way to support the people of Maui,” said Maui Brewing Company Founder and CEO, Garrett Marrero. “As one beer, brewed by many, Kōkua supports our Maui ‘Ohana who have been affected by the tragic wildfires. We are grateful to every brewery who has participated this year.” Maui Brewing partnered with Global Empowerment Mission to facilitate the fiscal responsibilities for the Maui Brewing Company Fire Fund. While participating breweries were encouraged to send their donations to GEM, some breweries opted to donate to Hawaii Community Foundation, Makai Foundation, or other legitimate non-profit organizations including Legacy of Aloha. Legacy of Aloha benefits Maui Brewing and TS Restaurants teammates that have been displaced and lost their belongings and livelihoods. The two restaurant groups partnered for the largest impact. Across these collaborative efforts, the beer community has raised $3M for Maui’s relief efforts with $1.5M pledged through the Kōkua Project. President and CEO of Maui Brewing Co. Restaurants, Chris Thibaut sent the update, "We're stoked to share that we've hit the $1.77M mark through the Legacy of Aloha program! The amount of support and aloha our community has shown these past few months has been truly amazing. Huge Mahalo for making a real difference in the lives of our Maui 'Ohana!" The financials provided by Legacy of Aloha did not only include brewery contributions from the Kōkua Project. The Maui Brewing Company team led by Garrett Marrero have been providing ongoing support to Maui, also facilitating supply missions, collecting vital items for the survivors, and delivering emergency drinking water to communities affected by the wildfires. As a result earlier this month, the brewing trade publication Brewbound announced their Best of 2023 Award Winners. Marrero was presented with the Person of the Year Award for “exemplifying the spirit of the craft brewing industry”. Beer lovers and those looking to support Maui’s relief efforts can donate directly to the Maui Brewing Company Fire Fund online HERE. For more information, visit MauiBrewing.com or follow @MauiBrewingCo on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. ### About Maui Brewing Company Founded in 2005, Maui Brewing Company is Hawaii’s largest craft brewery. MBC is based on Maui, with its grid-independent production brewery, restaurant and tasting room in Kihei, as well as restaurants in Kahana (Maui), Ka'anapali (Maui), Kailua (Oahu), and Waikiki (Oahu). Maui Brewing Company is available in 26 states, 1 district, and 3 international countries with more areas to follow. … from Northwest Beer Guide - News - The Northwest Beer Guide https://bit.ly/4aFdA4p

[reasonandempathy]

What to do with 10 trillion dollars

I spent way too much time actually answering a reddit question of "How would you spend 10 trillion dollars if you needed to in 20 years. You will die after 20 years." So, I figured I'd share it here.

With only $10 trillion dollars you can't stabilize greenhouse gases or get rid of fossil fuels, which are 13t and 44t respectively. I'm using a variety of sources, so don't expect citations.

I did slightly overpay for things, strategically, partially because I can only imagine doing the things I would do would make it more expensive than it would otherwise be. You'll see.

I'm presuming I don't get assassinated.

What you can do (I did the math) figures are in Billions:

Personal (2.44/10000):

1.44 on remaking 8 games as mid-line AAA games (I chose Legend of Dragoon, FF8, Witcher 1, and the Legacy of Kain series).

.214 on 50 years of housing and buying yourself a $130,000,000 home in NYC. Includes taxes, maintenance, and furniture.

.15 on household staff for 50 years, with at double the normal pay

.000327 to put 3 kids through the best pre-k and best college in the country

.664 setting up each of those 3 kids with their own equivalent home and staff setup

Public Service (4303/10000):

Big one out of the way. 2500bn in lobbying/buying up American politicians to enact structural reforms I want to see. You would think this would be way too much, since the presidential election in 2020 only had 14.4 in it. This amounts to averaging 250 in spending every election cycle, even off-year. I counter with the global commercial banking market having a market cap of 2800 in 2023. The defense industry is almost 480. Health insurance in the US is 1600. This is an expensive, long-drawn fight. This is likely the single most important thing on the list. Anti-corruption measures, labor rights, pro-democracy reforms, including ultimately making it illegal for other people to buy more elections.

a cumulative total of 1803 spent on:

curing the most common cause of blindness worldwide

eradicating polio, rabies, elephantitis, malaria, world hunger, COVID19 issues, Water + Sanitation access, extreme poverty, homelessness in USA, Canada, and UK (I looked for China, Indonesia, Nigeria, Egypt, and Pakistan but couldn't find real numbers),

protecting the Amazon rainforest

Corporate Fixing (5692/10000):

Buying up and changing (converting to Co-Ops, converting to non-profits, dissolving, or something in line with those:

Meta

Amazon

Disney

JP Morgan Chase

Lockheed Martin

Delta

Alphabet

Asda

Tesco

Nike

The Weinstein Company

United Airlines

Shein

EA

BP

Bayer (side-note: they own/are Monsanto now)

De Beers

Vonovia Real Estate Developers

DLE

Ubisoft

Ikea

Shueisha

and Viz Media

It leaves me with 1.4bn left over. I'm comfortable with saying an additional billion would likely be used up administratively as things get a bit more expensive than I thought they would.

Honestly, I could likely blow it on close friends and family who need it. If you have an issue with the house spending being for 50 years instead of 30, that can just be shuffled around a bit to include more people in my personal life to meet the same number.

Leaving me with 470 million to spend elsewhere in the next 20 years. Expensive vacations, nice cars, donating to "smaller" issues as I see worthwhile, giving family and friends money for their ventures/dreams, etc. make me think it wouldn't actually be hard to lose track of that much money in those many years.

Hell, if I want to I can probably spend a million bucks on food a year just for my family. Probably more, if I actively try to do so.

[cuetzpalin1234]

Chicano report back on the Puro Pinche Palestina! Show and Night Market

It was a very cold Saturday evening January 20th, 2024. My partner and I arrived at the event about an hour or 2 after it started. We thought when we showed up it would be over. When we got closer to the location, it looked like a full house with cars lined up on both sides of the road. So, as we tried to find a space to park, we finally entered the event, and it was still very active. The 6pm show and night market was organized by Red Star and Bimbos for Liberation in coordination with Tandem, located at 310 Riverside Dr. San Anto, Tx.  The purpose of the event was to benefit San Antonio for Justice in Palestine. There was a very diverse crowd in the lot outside socializing and walking around looking at the 25+ vendors and local artists that were out there in solidarity and calling for a ceasefire.

There were several groups huddled around the different log fires they had set up for the cold winter evening. There was also food for sale by Saha, Gorda Bakes, Angel Numb, El Puño y La Mano, WRLD 8, and Slumber Party World created by Callie. You could also hear music coming from the DJ and live bands such as Vintage Pictures, Sacred Games, Optic Arrest, Bitter Critter, Powdered Wig Machine, and RoshII. We got a chance to check out the inside for some food and water. They also sell coffee, beer, and wine. It was comfortable. They had tables, chairs, and couches. They also had picnic tables outside as well. After attending the event it really motivated me to continue to organize. I promised myself I would try to be around more justice seeking people interested in making a positive impact in the world. So, this event was very uplifting because lately I had been feeling isolated. There were some myths or lies that I believe were challenged at the event: 1: No one in San Antonio cares about what is happening in Palestine. Clearly, there were many folks out there in support of the Palestinian people. 2: Chicanos and Africans have no connection to Palestinians.

Statement in solidarity with Palestine!

"So similar are the struggles of Palestinians and Chicanos that in 1980 El Partido Nacional de La Raza Unida sent a delegation to a historic meeting with Palestinian Liberation Organization founder Yasser Arafat. The meeting took place in Lebanon as it was impossible to enter Palestine at that moment. We must recall this meeting and the continued solidarity PNLRU has expressed to our sister and brothers of Palestine who despite facing the advance US funded weaponry and military might of the Zionist occupation nothing can break the iron will and national pride of the Palestinian people, and we see this in the relentless pride Palestinians express from the youngest child to the elderly they all know without a doubt that first and foremost they are Palestinian!

This is an example we cannot ignore here in Aztlan in the “Belly of the Beast” our national unity is challenged relentlessly with so many labels placed on us by this colonizer. The struggles of Palestine and Aztlan are deeply connected in fact the US imposed colonial border separating Aztlan and Mexico has Israeli contractors written all over it. Companies like Elbit, NICE, and Verint Systems have entrenched themselves within the border enforcement industry, which carries significant implications for La Raza. The introduction of drones, surveillance cameras, and sensor systems further militarizes La Frontera Falsa. PNLRU demands a thorough and critical evaluation of the involvement of Israeli security companies in US Mexico border security. This collaboration raises valid concerns about the continued militarization of our border and the potential infringement on human rights. Our stance on this issue doubles down on our support for the Palestinian people’s struggle for self-determination. Both struggles, for Chicano liberation and Palestinian liberation, deserve recognition and steadfast advocacy in the shared fight against oppression and imperialism."

“We felt we both had the same fight. They learned about our struggle that Chicanos were being thrown out of their homeland. So, they invited us on a fact finding mission so we could come back and tell the world that there are two sides to every story.” Rebecca Hill PNLRU-NM

There has been a lot of bad information being spread so it is hard to understand what is happening if you are just following the capitalist media and/or social media and relying on those sources to understand the root/s of the problem/s. Work collectively and do your research. Check out the following:

USA Foriegn Policy/Imperialism 

La Raza Unida takes these positions against the Imperialism of the United States of America. 

La Raza Unida believes in the self-determination of all people. 

La Raza Unida believes in peaceful coexistence. 

Indigenous peoples and developing nations must be self-sufficient and not exploited or manipulated. 

La Raza Unida believes in international worker solidarity, which Imperialism prevents through competition between countries. 

La Raza Unida stands for social change. Imperialism creates dictatorships that repress dissent, social change and self-determination. 

USA Occupation Forces International and Domestic (Militant/Police/ICE) 

La Raza Unida recognizes the US Military and its police forces as the armed wing of the settler colonizer. We stand in solidarity with all liberation struggles. 

The USA armed forces are designed to keep our people terrorized, exploited and controlled. 

The USA armed forces take advantage of the dire economic realities of our people with false promises. 

USA Veterans experience trauma and betrayal. La Raza Unida supports them in their healing. Their experience can be an asset to the true liberation of our people. 

Technology used abroad by the USA military today will be used against Raza tomorrow. 

La Raza Unida supports the right for our own people to develop a force to “serve, observe and protect” ourselves.

 La Frontera Falsa 

La Raza Unida does not recognize the “USA/Mexico” border as legitimate. It was imposed by military invasion and held by occupational forces. Therefore: 

No Human being is illegal. 

La Raza Unida opposes any militarization of la frontera falsa. 

USA immigration policy is designed to enrich the elite through the suffering of Raza and as a weapon against the Chicano people. 

The construction or expansion of any physical barrier at la frontera falsa must be opposed. 

We oppose the separation of families and the caging of children. 

Our Raza, whether Mexicano or CentroAmericano, must be allowed to migrate on their own continent in search of a better life for themselves and their children. 

As social workers we also have principles and values we must practice. We must value social, economic, and political justice and never compromise our principle of challenging injustice. Join an organization working for justice today!

[architectuul]

The Nuclear City

The market, though small, was as lively as any I saw in Cuba. We walked from stall to stall, past vendors selling tropical fruit and sacks of rice. Behind one table a woman sat on the curb, a sack between her thighs, tapping a sieve like an old-timey pan-handler as she separated insects from grains of rice. I bought a portion of fresh, sticky mango slices… realising too late that there was nowhere to wash my hands clean after.

Ciudad Nuclear, Cuba as seen from the 14th floor rooftop of an unfinished apartment block.

The sun was beating down hard so the four of us ducked into the welcome shelter of a bar. We were the only customers; it was dark inside, cool, with flies buzzing lazily around the slow-moving ceiling fan. We ordered a round of beers – Cuban Bucaneros – and I held the cold can up to my baked skull, my temples, then rolled it between my hands allowing the frosty condensation to de-gunk my fruit-sticky fingers. I looked out at the market: an island of humanity, while all around it rose the empty shells of unfinished residential blocks. This handful of stalls was now the social heart of a city once built for thousands, and these people the last stubborn lives to remain amongst the ruins of Ciudad Nuclear.

Thousands of apartments built for construction workers and Soviet nuclear engineers now sit abandoned.

Back in 2014 I shared an article about my visit to an unfinished nuclear power plant in Cuba. It was no more than a concrete shell by the time I saw it, with a dome that made it look almost like a temple, left abandoned on the Caribbean coast.

The site had been built with Soviet money and know-how, and was to be accompanied by a brand new city for power plant workers. The Chernobyl reactors in Ukraine had the workers’ city at Pripyat; the Lithuanian reactor at Visaginas, likewise, had a model socialist city raised up almost overnight in its shadow; and here at Juragua in Cuba, the Soviets helped build ‘Ciudad Nuclear’: in English, simply, ‘Nuclear City.’

The USSR began working on the Cuban nuclear power plant in 1976, and Ciudad Nuclear was opened on 13th October 1982, to house the influx of Soviet scientists and engineers. Located six miles from the plant it was to feature 4,200 homes but the Cuban plant was never finished. Construction ground to a halt in 1989, as the funding dried up and the Soviet Union teetered on the brink of collapse. The intended workers’ city was left in limbo as a result: half finished, only part inhabited, an unsustainable cluster of concrete dwellings on a remote stretch of the Cuban shoreline.

Ciudad Nuclear, Cuba: view from the balcony of a spacious residential complex that never got finished.

A handful of residents still live in Ciudad Nuclear surrounded on all sides by empty blocks, and with the unfinished power plant just visible on the horizon.

I made the journey down to Juragua with friends. We hired a car in Havana, and drove for several hours to reach the site on the south side of the island. We slept in a casa nearby, a sweet little place down by the water’s edge, but on the day of our intended visit to the plant we found the place crawling with security guards. Later we’d come back, and we’d find another way inside the unfinished Juragua NPP – but first we spent an afternoon in Ciudad Nuclear.

A Cuban turkey vulture circles over the quiet streets of Ciudad Nuclear.

Ciudad Nuclear is a peculiar place. I want to call it a ‘ghost town,’ but that wouldn’t be entirely accurate. The handful of citizens who remain here are, for the most part, commuters. Some drive 20 miles to work in Cienfuegos, a larger town with a busy port and industrial sector. Not a lot of Cubans have their own transport though, which means that Ciudad Nuclear – an unfinished, out-of-the-way conurbation with little going on in terms of entertainment or employment – is doomed to a slow depopulation.

Leaving the market, we turned a corner and quickly found ourselves alone. Down the length of Ciudad Nuclear’s main street, only two parked cars and a couple of distant pedestrians were visible. Rounding a corner to the next street we met a small family and a donkey, but the rows of apartment blocks behind them looked desolate and bare.

Empty spaces inside a tower block planned for luxury apartments.

Poetry by José Martí appears on a wall in what might have been intended as a cafeteria.

Save for the occasional sheet flapping in the wind on some third-floor washing line, most of the buildings here seemed to be uninhabited; many looked like they had never been finished, their faded pastel exteriors wrapped around empty cement boxes. Inside one large ground floor space (a shop or a café?) I found a wall decorated with a verse by José Martí, Cuba’s most beloved revolutionary poet:

Cuba no anda de pedigueña Por el mundo, anda de hermana Al salvarse, salva América No le fallará, porque ella No le falla a América.

Poetry always loses a little in translation, but in English it means something like this:

Cuba does not go around the world as a beggar but as a sister By saving herself, she saves the Americas She will not fail, because she will not fail the Americas.

Looking east from Ciudad Nuclear, where a narrow strait connects the Caribbean to the inland Bay of Cienfuegos.

Some of the buildings around Ciudad Nuclear stood near to collapse. I looked inside a few, though there wasn’t much to see. The risk-reward ratio didn’t seem weighted in my favour, so for the most part when I saw ‘Derrumbe’ – ‘Collapse’ – written across a building, I kept away.

Heading back towards the centre we passed a naked tower block, the tallest we’d seen so far. Across its side were painted the words, ‘¡¡Socialismo o Muerte!!’ though it felt like an oddly subversive slogan, given the context. Socialism or Death. This place seemed to have a little bit of both.

Socialism or Death in Ciudad Nuclear.

Gazing up at that graffitied ruin, I decided I wanted to climb it – to see how Ciudad Nuclear looked from the top. The stairs inside were intact, but there was little else to see inside the 14-floor skeleton; nothing but concrete all the way up. Reaching the top, I walked out of the stairwell onto an open-plan level that fell abruptly away at the edge; no windows, no handrail, just a sudden drop to the street.

Something flapped noisily nearby and I turned, in time to see a large dark bird take flight from its concrete perch on the fourteenth floor balcony. Later I’d be told it was a vulture.

Above the top end of the stairwell, a square hole opened to the rooftop and the sky. It took a bit of a scramble to get up there – balancing on a concrete bannister, catching hold of the ledge above and pulling myself up to the building’s summit – but it was worth the work.

Nature is already reclaiming the rooftops of Ciudad Nuclear, Cuba.

Looking out across the Bay of Cienfuegos from a Ciudad Nuclear rooftop.

Stood up there in the sweltering sun, I traced the shoreline curving into the distance: the beach a ribbon of gold between the water and the forest. Below me the empty streets and unfinished buildings of Ciudad Nuclear fanned out in grid formation, a model city that never quite made it off the drafting table. Meanwhile along the coast, an abandoned 16-floor reactor building rose from the forest like some ancient temple ruin: a concrete mausoleum for the Cuban-Soviet nuclear programme.

Designed to provide 4,200 homes, this is how the city looks today.

The building that started it all: six miles from the city sits the concrete shell of the Juragua Nuclear Power Plant.

-

Text and photo by Darmon Richter [adapted with permission from an article at [EX UTOPIA] 

[adultswim2021]

The Drinky Crow Show #5: “Whale Show” | December 1, 2008 - 12:15AM | S01E02

Well, hello there. It’s the Drinky Crow Show from AdultSwim.com. In this one, Drinky Crow has blown his brains out and needs to find them in order to figure out what happened the night before which caused him to blow his brains out. He finds his brains, and they tell him: He found a pretty gal who had him take him out to sea. Drinky was happy to oblige, thinking perhaps he’ll get his cloaca sniffed. Before he’s able to get to any kind of base a big sea monster gobbles his date up.

Drinky shares this tale of woe to a pub filled with enraptured bar flies. After a night of having his beers paid for by sympathetic-ear-havers, Drinky realizes he can profit off telling his story over-and-over. So he does, with stupid puppets and stuff on a street corner.

His rinky-dink puppet show version of his story gets some attention from a big corporate entity, who buys Drinky’s heartbreak, keeping him and Uncle Gabby on as writers. And that’s where the episode sorta falls apart somewhat. The episode goes on another bizarre flight of fancy where Drinky keeps buying black market brains to keep his scripts fresh, which are now being performed at a Sea World style theme park. The suits encourage the writing partners to appeal to teens and engage in meta-humor. Okay, so it’s episode two (or three counting the pilot [or five, if you’re watching this in production order {which is how the Adult Swim website (adultswim.com) has it}]) and we’re already doing an episode that’s about the show itself?? COME ON! 

There’s a part in this where the park show includes a paid promotion from the Navy. My guess is that it was a reference to the fact that Adult Swim often did run ads for the US military, a fact that should piss us all off more than it clearly does. The Navy is also a big enough part of the Maakies-verse that maybe I’m wrong about that, and it’s actually just a coincidence. In a vacuum, the Navy would be the most likely entity to advertise itself in this world. I don’t know, I’m just flashing back to Brak solemnly saying “be an Army of one” and frowning right now. I am denying the world my smile, and that's bad news.

This one is resolved when Drinky happens upon the brains of the sea monster that ate his girlfriend. Absorbing the monsters memories makes him realize that his girlfriend only faked her death for the insurance money. And now I no longer have to talk about this episode (which wasn’t that good, in case it’s clear). 

EPHEMERA CORNER:

Metalocalypse - Season Two DVD (December 2, 2008)

It’s important to note every single DVD release, or else I will die. 

This one didn’t advertise any extras, but hid everything as Easter Eggs. At least, that’s what I was told via a review from DVD Talk. 

MAIL BAG

Fun fact: Drinky Crow is one of the few shows the network openly doesn't like. Quoting the 16th anniversary disillusionment theater marathon: "We are fans of Tony Millionaire’s Maakies comic strip so we tried to turn it into a TV show. Turns out it made more sense as a strip. The Drinky Crow Show 2007"

Those bumps use too much sass mouth for my tastes, but I guess it’s admirable that they can be self-deprecating. I remember they said something about how they shouldn’t’ve commissioned 20 episode seasons from shows like Saul of the Mole Men. Very class LESS thing for them to do. But considering that they feed into the military-industrial complex, as noted in the above review, this should not be surprising.

[marksmithimarc]

The United States beer market size reached US$ 101.7 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach US$ 118.7 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8% during 2023-2028. Beer refers to a fermented alcoholic beverage that is produced from malted grains, such as barley, water, hops, and yeast.

[hritika1]

Global Beer Market Growth, Volume And Future to 2027.

Discover comprehensive Beer Market analysis, explore the latest Beer Market trends, and access insights into the evolving Beer Market size. Stay informed with our in-depth reports.

[ananya5400]

Global Enzymes Market: Key Drivers, Challenges, and Future Outlook

The enzymes market size is expected to grow from USD 14.0 billion in 2024 to USD 20.4 billion by 2029, reflecting a CAGR of 7.8% during this period. This growth is driven by increasing global demand for enzymes across various industries. In the food and beverage sector, enzymes improve product quality and consistency, while in biofuels, they promote more efficient and sustainable production methods. The pharmaceutical industry leverages enzymes for drug formulation and disease treatment. Furthermore, the rising emphasis on eco-friendly and cost-effective industrial processes is boosting enzyme applications in detergents and textiles. Innovations in biotechnology are also leading to the development of specialized enzymes for targeted uses, enhancing their demand. Overall, the versatility and effectiveness of enzymes across multiple sectors are fueling their increasing global demand, with market players actively engaging in partnerships for industrial and specialty enzymes.Enzymes Market

Enzymes Market Trends

Here are some trends currently shaping the enzymes market:

Increased Demand in Food and Beverage: The rise in health-conscious consumers has led to higher demand for enzymes in food processing, enhancing flavor, texture, and nutritional content.

Biotechnology Advancements: Innovations in biotechnology are leading to more efficient enzyme production processes, improving yield and reducing costs.

Sustainable Practices: There’s a growing emphasis on sustainability, driving the use of enzymes in eco-friendly applications like biofuels, biodegradable plastics, and waste management.

Pharmaceutical Applications: The use of enzymes in drug formulation and as therapeutic agents is expanding, particularly in personalized medicine and biosimilars.

Animal Feed Enzymes: The demand for animal feed additives, particularly enzymes that improve nutrient absorption and digestion, is on the rise due to the growing livestock industry.

Personal Care Products: Enzymes are increasingly being incorporated into personal care and cosmetics for their ability to enhance product efficacy and skin benefits.

Specialty Enzymes Expected to Capture a Major Enzymes Market Share During the Forecast Period.

Specialty enzymes are crucial in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, particularly in biopharmaceutical production involving monoclonal antibodies and gene therapies, where precision and specificity are vital. For example, proteinase K is commonly used in DNA and RNA extraction for genomic research, a field that has seen heightened demand due to advancements in personalized medicine and diagnostics. This segment of specialty enzymes benefits from substantial R&D investments and innovations. Companies such as Novozymes A/S (Denmark) and dsm-firmenich (Switzerland) are focused on creating novel enzymes with enhanced stability and activity tailored for specific industrial uses. A notable example is dsm-firmenich’s launch of Maxilact Next in May 2023, which improves lactose-free dairy production efficiency by 25% without compromising taste. Additionally, supportive regulatory frameworks for biopharmaceuticals and the rising incidence of chronic diseases that require advanced treatments further drive the growth of specialty enzymes, reinforcing their market leadership.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=46202020

Plant-Derived Enzymes Capture a Major Share of the Enzymes Market.

Amylase, derived from barley and wheat, plays a vital role in the brewing industry by breaking down starches into fermentable sugars, enhancing both the efficiency and quality of beer production. In the juice and wine sectors, pectinase sourced from fruits such as apples and oranges is widely used to clarify beverages and boost juice yield. Plant enzymes are also essential in the expanding market for plant-based and vegan products. For example, transglutaminase from plant sources improves texture and binding in meat alternatives, addressing the growing consumer demand for sustainable and ethical food choices. This trend is reinforced by the increasing popularity of plant-based diets, which further drives the demand for plant-derived enzymes. Companies like Novozymes have made significant investments in developing enzyme solutions tailored to specific industry needs. In March 2020, Novozymes A/S (Denmark) launched Saphera Fiber, a plant-derived lactase enzyme aimed at increasing fiber content in dairy products while lowering sugar levels, catering to health-conscious consumers.

Enzymes Market Forecast: Asia Pacific to Experience the Highest Growth Rate

The Asia-Pacific region is poised for significant growth in the enzyme market, influenced by unique industry dynamics and regional trends. A major driver is the biopharmaceutical sector, especially in countries like South Korea and Singapore, where the demand for enzymes in drug manufacturing and bioprocessing is rising. These enzymes are vital for processes such as protein expression, purification, and modification, which are crucial for producing biologics like monoclonal antibodies and vaccines. Additionally, the burgeoning healthcare and diagnostic sectors in the region are rapidly increasing the need for specialty enzymes, particularly for diagnostic assays, genetic testing, and therapeutic applications, fueled by heightened investments in healthcare infrastructure and research. Moreover, the thriving textile and detergent industries in countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam present promising opportunities for enzyme manufacturers. Enzymes are increasingly utilized in textile processing for fabric softening, de-sizing, and denim finishing, as well as in detergent formulations for enhanced stain removal and fabric care. As these sectors evolve in response to changing consumer preferences and regulatory standards, the demand for enzymes is expected to rise sharply, establishing the Asia-Pacific region as a key driver of growth in the global enzyme market.

Top Enzymes Companies

Key players in this market include BASF SE (Germany), International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (US), dsm-firmenich (Switzerland), Associated British Foods plc (England), Novozymes A/S (Denmark), Kerry Group plc. (Ireland), Dyadic International Inc. (US), Advanced Enzyme Technologies (India), Aumgene Biosciences (India), Amano Enzyme Inc. (Japan), F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland), Codexis, Inc. (US), Sanofi (France), Merck KGaA (Germany), Adisseo (China).

[shrutijadhav2139]

Beer Dispensers Market Analysis by Value & Volume: Segment-Wise Market Share Insights

The beer dispensers market has witnessed remarkable growth over the past decade, driven by increasing consumer demand for draft beer and advancements in dispensing technologies. This analysis delves into the market's performance by value and volume, offering insights into segment-wise market share to understand the key factors influencing this thriving industry.

Market Overview

Beer dispensers are essential for serving draft beer at optimal temperature and freshness in bars, restaurants, and homes. With the growing popularity of craft beer and the rising trend of homebrewing, the demand for efficient and user-friendly beer dispensing systems has soared. According to recent industry reports, the global beer dispensers market is projected to expand significantly over the next five years, fueled by innovation and changing consumer preferences.

Segment-Wise Market Insights

Product Type Analysis

The beer dispensers market can be broadly categorized into the following product types:

Countertop Dispensers: Widely used in residential and small-scale commercial setups, these dispensers dominate in volume terms due to their affordability and convenience. They account for a substantial share of the market, particularly in regions with a high adoption of homebrewing.

Kegerators: These units are popular in larger commercial establishments like bars and breweries. While their volume share is lower, kegerators contribute significantly to market value due to their higher price points and advanced features.

Portable Dispensers: Designed for events and outdoor use, this segment has seen steady growth, driven by rising demand for on-the-go beer dispensing solutions.

End-Use Segmentation

The market is segmented into residential and commercial end-users:

Commercial Segment: The commercial sector, including bars, restaurants, and pubs, represents the largest share by value and volume. The demand is driven by the rising number of establishments offering draft beer, along with increased consumer spending on dining out.

Residential Segment: The residential segment is gaining momentum, especially among beer enthusiasts and homebrewers. Compact and affordable dispensers targeted at this demographic are driving growth in this category.

Regional Analysis

North America: A leading region in both value and volume terms, North America benefits from a robust craft beer industry and high disposable income.

Europe: Known for its beer culture, Europe holds a significant market share. The region’s focus on sustainability has also prompted innovations in energy-efficient beer dispensers.

Asia-Pacific: This region is witnessing the fastest growth, with rising urbanization, a burgeoning middle class, and increasing popularity of beer consumption.

Distribution Channel Insights

Online Channels: The convenience and variety offered by online platforms are boosting sales in this channel, particularly among residential buyers.

Offline Channels: Despite the rise of e-commerce, offline channels such as specialty stores and direct sales to businesses continue to dominate in volume terms.

Key Trends Shaping the Market

Technological Advancements: From self-cleaning systems to smart dispensers with digital monitoring, innovation is driving value growth.

Sustainability Focus: Eco-friendly and energy-efficient dispensers are becoming increasingly popular among environmentally conscious consumers.

Customization Options: Personalized dispensers, including branding for businesses, are emerging as a key differentiator in the commercial sector.

Conclusion

The beer dispensers market, segmented by product type, end use, region, and distribution channel, is poised for robust growth in the coming years. While the commercial sector dominates in terms of value, the residential segment is quickly catching up, driven by the rising interest in homebrewing and draft beer consumption. As technological advancements and sustainability initiatives continue to shape the market, stakeholders can expect new opportunities for innovation and expansion.

Get Free Sample and ToC : https://www.pristinemarketinsights.com/get-free-sample-and-toc?rprtdtid=NTA3&RD=Beer-Dispensers-Market-Report

[nwbeerguide]

15 years in, Everybody's Brewing undergoes a refresh with new labels, a new logo, and several new releases.

Press Release

[White Salmon, WA, March 6th, 2023]. Everybody’s Brewing, a mid-size brewery out of White Salmon, Washington, announced today that it has completed a major rebranding, first unveiled at their pub in White Salmon, WA on March 4th, 2023. 

Everybody’s Brewing was founded in 2008, on the principles of creating the highest quality craft beer, in a space where everyone would feel welcome. While this ethos remains the same, they wanted to elevate their visual presence to match the quality of their product. The full overhaul of their visual identity will be rolled out across all facets of the business, including packaged products, interior design, and online presence. The launch of the rebrand coincides with the release of four new year-round 12oz cans, and two new seasonal 16oz cans. 

“We’ll still be the same Everybody’s,” said Everybody’s Co-Owner Doug Ellenberger, “but we recognize the importance of keeping our branding fun and relevant. The market has changed a lot in the 14 years since we opened, and we’re keeping up with those changes. We feel the new branding will appeal both to our day-one customers, and folks that haven’t yet thought to give us a try.” Says Ellenberger, “We take a lot of pride in the quality of our beer, and we are also really proud of our new look.”

The former branding, designed in 2008, featured a logo of people standing together with beers in hand – a very literal interpretation of “Everybody’s”. Over the years, the logo remained the same while aspects of artwork on their cans slowly, continuously evolved. This slow evolution allowed the company to grow, but they found the products becoming less cohesive over time. The new branding is not only an effort to tighten up their look, but a chance for the company to define and re-iterate who “Everybody’s Brewing” is, and what they stand for.

“We kicked off this project by exploring the mission and voice of our company, which was a really exciting aspect of the process for us.” Says Co-Owner Christine Ellenberger, “It was a chance to sit down and say ‘Okay, we know who we are, but how do we better define that share it with people?’ In the end, the most important thing was that we stay true to our core values: inclusivity, quality, fun, and community.”

The new branding has a clean, but retro feel, and maintains the playful aspect that Everybody’s is known for. This can be exemplified by 12oz cans of their new “Co-Pilot Pilsner”, featuring a joyful, animated dog hanging out the side of a classic pickup truck window.

Their new logo is a flag with an emblazoned “E”, and new slogan boldly states, “Beer For All.”

Ellenberger noted it’s importance, “The flag was kind of an ironic play; traditionally, they’re used to stake claim or ownership someone or something specific, but our flag stakes claim for everybody. We truly believe that craft beer is a community staple, one that everyone should be able to enjoy. Our new slogan drives that home. We make beer for everybody.”

Everybody’s will continue the celebration of their rollout, and your first chance to buy the new cans, at the following events: 

PDX: 3/9 – Belmont Station

Vancouver: 3/10 Ben’s Bottle Shop

Tacoma: 3/14 – Peaks and Pints

Visit Everybodysbrewing.com to further explore the new branding and their new lineup of cans.

About Everybody’s Brewing: Founded in 2008, Everybody’s Brewing sits perfectly nestled on the cliffs of White Salmon, WA, overlooking the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. Inspired by the region’s premium hop and malt production, their beer offerings reflect the ever-changing trends and innovation within the brewing industry. The brewery’s pub features globally-inspired fare with great attention paid to high-quality ingredients and customer experience, with jaw-dropping views of its volcanic neighbor to the south: Mt. Hood. 

from Northwest Beer Guide - News - The Northwest Beer Guide https://bit.ly/3SQrSa1

[industrynewsupdates]

Future of Beverage Cans Market: Opportunities and Challenges

The global beverage cans market was valued at USD 41.14 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% from 2024 to 2030. This growth can largely be attributed to the rising global consumption of beverages such as carbonated soft drinks, beer, and cider, all of which significantly contribute to the demand for beverage cans. As consumer preferences continue to evolve towards ready-to-drink options, the need for practical, efficient packaging solutions like beverage cans is increasing.

One of the major drivers of the beverage cans market is the high recycling rate of aluminum cans. Aluminum, being 100% recyclable, is favored for its sustainability. The ability to recycle aluminum cans repeatedly without degrading the material quality contributes to their growing popularity. This also appeals to consumers and industries focused on reducing environmental impact. In addition to this environmental benefit, aluminum cans also have superior physical properties compared to alternative materials such as plastic or glass. For instance, aluminum cans offer better insulation, which helps preserve the beverage's temperature and flavor, and they are lighter and more durable than glass containers.

Beverage cans offer a range of benefits that are driving their demand, particularly in urban and fast-paced environments. Their convenience and portability make them an attractive choice for on-the-go consumption. Cans are lightweight, easy to carry, and can be resealed, which gives consumers the flexibility to enjoy their drinks whenever and wherever they prefer. These factors are especially appealing to people with busy lifestyles, such as urban dwellers who rely on practical packaging for their everyday beverages.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Beverage Cans Market

Regional Insights

North America Beverage Cans Market

 In 2023, North America held the largest revenue share of 36.0% in the global beverage cans market. The region’s dominance can be attributed to several key factors, including the high consumption of canned beverages during major sporting events like Major League Baseball (MLB) games, where the portability and convenience of beverage cans play a crucial role. These events often see a surge in demand for canned beverages such as beer, soft drinks, and energy drinks, further driving the market’s growth.

U.S. Beverage Cans Market Trends

 In the U.S., the beverage cans market is heavily influenced by the high demand for soft drinks and beer, both of which are increasingly packaged in aluminum cans. The U.S. market is characterized by a significant consumption of beverages like cold coffee, fruit juices, frappes, iced teas, and flavored sodas, which are often sold in cans due to their convenience and portability. Moreover, the growing trend of regulations on single-use plastic packaging in the U.S. is likely to further drive the demand for metal cans, as various states—including California, Connecticut, and New York—have banned single-use plastics to curb environmental pollution. This shift towards metal packaging solutions will benefit the growth of the beverage cans market as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic.

Canada Beverage Cans Market

 In Canada, the beverage cans market is also expected to witness steady growth, primarily driven by increased aluminum recycling rates. The Canadian government has made significant efforts to improve aluminum waste collection and recycling programs, which enhances the supply of metal for beverage can production. A notable development in the country includes the Matalco joint venture between Rio Tinto and Giampaolo Group, which aims to meet the growing demand for low-carbon aluminum. This collaboration will help ensure a steady supply of high-quality aluminum, supporting the growth of beverage cans manufacturing in Canada. This initiative is especially important as the demand for recycled aluminum is rising in sectors like transportation, construction, and packaging.

Europe Beverage Cans Market: 

Europe represents the second-largest region in the beverage cans market, contributing 25.3% of the global revenue in 2023. The demand for beverage cans in Europe is being driven by personalization trends and the increasing demand for sustainable packaging solutions. The region is home to some of the world’s largest beverage manufacturers, such as AB InBev, Heineken, and PepsiCo, all of which contribute significantly to the beverage cans market. These companies are adopting sustainable practices and increasing the use of recyclable packaging to meet consumer demand for eco-friendly options.

In France, the beverage cans market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.4% during the forecast period. This growth is fueled by the rising demand for sustainable and recyclable packaging solutions, with major consumer brands in France transitioning towards metal packaging to reduce the environmental impact of plastic packaging. France has seen several large corporations, including beverage giants like Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Nestlé France, committing to sustainability by opting for more aluminum and steel cans in their packaging portfolios.

Asia Pacific Beverage Cans Market: 

The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth in the beverage cans market, with a projected CAGR of 7.0% from 2024 to 2030. This growth is driven by the increasing demand for packaged beverages in emerging economies like India, China, and Australia, where consumer preferences are shifting towards convenient, ready-to-drink beverages. In addition, urbanization and rising disposable incomes in these regions are making it easier for consumers to access packaged beverages, further boosting the demand for beverage cans.

In China, the beverage cans market is expected to grow steadily due to the presence of major aluminum manufacturers such as Aluminum Corporation of China Limited and Shandong Xinfa Aluminium Group, which ensure a continuous and cost-effective supply of metal for beverage can production. Although the recycling rate of aluminum in China is relatively low compared to developed economies, the country’s ample production of low-cost virgin aluminum supports the growing demand for beverage cans.

Browse through Grand View Research's Food Safety & Processing Industry Research Reports.

• The Europe food cans market size was estimated at USD 9.96 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.1% from 2025 to 2030. 

• The global food containers market size was valued at USD 331.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2025 to 2030.

Key Beverage Cans Company Insights

The beverage cans market is highly competitive, with several major players involved in product innovation and expansion efforts. Companies are adopting both organic and inorganic growth strategies, such as new product launches, joint ventures, and acquisitions, to strengthen their market positions.

For example:

• NOMOQ, a leading provider of digitally printed cans in Europe, launched its Blank Cans Service in January 2024. This service includes undecorated aluminum cans, providing greater flexibility and customization options for European beverage brands looking to create unique packaging for their products.

• In June 2023, Ball Corporation showcased its latest aluminum can and bottle portfolio at the BevNET Live Summer 2023 event, which included new supply locations for smaller can sizes and its exclusive Alumi-Tek aluminum bottles. The company is also focusing on expanding its portfolio of innovative packaging solutions to meet evolving consumer demands in the beverage packaging industry.

Key Beverage Cans Companies:

The following are the leading companies in the Beverage Cans market. These companies collectively hold the largest market share and dictate industry trends.

• Ball Corporation

• Ardagh Group S.A.

• Toyo Seikan Co., Ltd.

• CPMC Holdings Limited

• Orora Packaging Australia Pty. Ltd.

• CANPACK

• Crown Holdings, Inc.

• Mahmood Saeed Can and End Industry Company Limited (MSCANCO)

• Kian Joo Can Factory Berhad

• SWAN Industries (Thailand) Company Limited

• GZI Industries Limited

• Olayan Group

• Bangkok Can Manufacturing

• Nampak Ltd.

• Envases Group

Order a free sample PDF of the Beverage Cans Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[brainmassofficial]

How to become an actuary: 4 steps to earn six figures

Becoming an actuarial is a long process, but it can lead to a career with many financial rewards.

Have you ever wondered how to quantify risk? Or know how insurance companies figure out how much to charge you every month?

Most of the time, it isn’t all based on innate intuition; it’s instead powered by a lesser-known science called actuarial science.

The field combines mathematics, statistics, and business modeling in strategic decision-making. Actuarial science turns risk into calculated risk—helping businesses make decisions based on the highest probability of reaching goals.

If that sounds complicated—you’re right, it is, which is why actuaries are a high-paying occupation that is growing significantly. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, actuaries earn median pay of $120,000 per year—with a projected growth rate of 22% over the next decade.

Prospective actuaries should acquaint themselves with both the Society of Actuaries (SOA) and the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS). Both organizations have thousands of members who have undergone an extensive training and examination process to become fellows of their respective organizations. While the process takes many years and costs extensive time and money, it can be very lucrative.

Albert Beer, assistant professor at ​​St. John’s University’s School of Risk Management and Actuarial Science, says becoming an actuarial fellow can essentially lead to “guaranteed income for the rest of your career.”

While becoming an actuary is not a walk in the park, it can be certainly be rewarding. Here are 4 steps you need to take to land an actuary career:

1. Find your calling

Actuary science is closely related to many fields at the intersection of statistics and business, such as data scientists, data analysts, and financial analysts, so it is important that before you get started on the process, you do some exploration. 

One of the best ways to do that is to speak directly to an actuary living and breathing in the field. Using LinkedIn or other network resources, try to find one and ask if they would take a few minutes to have a conversation and allow you the opportunity to ask any questions. If they live in your community, you could even ask to shadow them for a day. Alternatively, YouTube has content where individuals have posted day-in-the-life videos that you could check out alongside the r/actuary subReddit.

Keep in mind that the number of actuaries in the job market is relatively small. The BLS reports that there are only about 30,200 actuaries—most of which work at insurance companies. Compare that to 202,900 data scientists and 404,800 financial analysts.

Actuaries tend to be well-rounded individuals with skills in mathematics and statistics paired with finance, economics, and law, Beer shares.

2. Complete a bachelor’s degree

At a minimum, all actuaries need a bachelor’s degree. Ideally, individuals should major in subjects related to mathematics, statistics, economics, finance, or accounting. Some universities even have bachelor’s degrees in actuarial science.

In the U.S., there are about two dozen universities that SOA has designated as “Centers of Actuarial Excellence”—meaning they meet specific criteria pertaining to the curriculum, faculty, industry connection, and more. These programs largely prepare students for a career as actuaries by setting them up to complete the first requirements toward an actuary designation, like completing coursework and taking examinations. The centers are:

Brigham Young University*

Drake University*

Georgia State University*

Illinois State University*

Pennsylvania State University*

Purdue University*

Robert Morris University*

St. John’s University*

Temple University*

University of Iowa*

University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign*

University of Nebraska–Lincoln*

University of St. Thomas*

University of Wisconsin–Madison*

University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee*

Arizona State University

Middle Tennessee State University

Towson University

University of California–Santa Barbara 

University of Connecticut

University of Michigan

University of Texas–Dallas

*These universities also have University-Earned Credit status, meaning students are eligible for SOA exam credit for certain courses.

During one’s undergraduate years, internships are a large part of one’s journey to becoming an actuary, Beer says. Not only does it help students determine which direction they may want to take their actuarial career, but it also heavily helps in networking for an eventual full-time job and whether individuals will pursue a fellowship at SOA or CAS. 

By the end of a student’s years at St. John’s University, Beer says most will have already completed the first two exams—both of which can be used for either SOA or CAS pathway. Graduates typically land jobs with starting salaries of about $85,000.

“I’ve been teaching 18 years now. I’ve never had an actuarial student with two exams and two internships not get a job,” he says.

3. Obtain actuary designation

To land most actuary jobs, it is required for you to have been designated—or on the pathway to—an associate or fellow of either SOA or CAS. To start, obtaining validations by education experience (VEEs) is necessary, most commonly obtained through college coursework. Then, about 10 competitive examinations must be passed, a process that can take many years and cost thousands of dollars.

However, candidates don’t have to do it alone. It is a common practice for an employer to assist employees in receiving the full designation in terms of financial assistance, time off to study, and career guidance. Specifically, Beer says some companies tend to give individuals two weeks off from work to study—and if they pass, they are typically rewarded with a promotion and $5,000 raise. Plus, the employer will pay for the exam itself.

Keep in mind though, that passing an actuarial exam is not easy; the pass rates for many of the exams is less than 50%.

Requirements to become an associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA)

VEE: Economics ($85)

VEE: Accounting and Finance ($85)

VEE: Mathematical Statistics ($85)

Exam: Probability ($260)

Exam: Financial Mathematics ($260)

Module: Pre-Actuarial Foundations ($210)

Exam: Fundamentals of Actuarial Mathematics ($390)

Exam: Advanced Short- or Long-term Actuarial Mathematics ($475)

Exam: Statistics for Risk Modeling ($340)

Module: Actuarial Science Foundations ($210)

Exam: Predictive Analytics ($1,170)

Module and assessment: Advanced Topics in Predictive analytics ($1,195)

Course and assessment: Fundamental of Actuarial Practice ($1,770)

Course: Associateship Professionalism ($625–$805)

To then become a fellow (FSA), there are eight to nine additional modules, exams, and courses individuals must complete via six different track options: 

Corporate Finance and ERM

Quantitative Finance and Investment

Individual Life and Annuities

Retirement Benefits

Group and Health

General Insurance

Requirements to become an associate of the Casualty Actuary Society (ACAS):

VEE: Economics ($75)

VEE: Accounting and Finance  ($75)

Exam: Probability (must take through other organization, such as SOA) 

Exam: Financial Mathematics (must take through other organization, such as SOA) 

Courses: Data and Insurance Series

Exam: Modern Actuarial Statistics-I ($550)

Exam: Modern Actuarial Statistics-II ($550)

Course: Professionalism (~$1,375)

Exam: Basic Ratemaking and Estimating Claim Liabilies ($850)

Exam: Regulation and Financial Reporting ($850)

To then become a fellow at the Casualty Actuary Society (FCAS) three additional examinations are required: 

Exam: Advanced Estimation of Claims Liabilities ($850)

Exam: Advanced Ratemaking ($850)

Exam: Risk Management for Actuaries ($850)

Both the SOA and CAS are similar in prestige, and many individuals go down a specific pathway based on their first job. While the requirements for CAS are less extensive and will cost you less money, the SOA is more popular. Both organizations also offer discounts on select requirements for full-time students.

4. Engage with the actuarial community

The actuarial community is tight-knit. While one is learning and working there will be in-person networking experiences to connect with fellow actuaries.

Also, don’t forget to keep up to date with trends in the industry. In order to maintain professional membership, continuing education may also be required. Actuarial science is not averse to the need for lifelong learning; technology, legal requirements, and regulations are always changing, so it is best to stay ahead of the game.

The takeaway

Becoming an actuary takes patience. Individuals must be dedicated to learning the craft and not be easily deterred by examinations—or even failing one. 

Despite the large barrier to entry, the actuary career can be very rewarding in terms of job security, high salaries, and growth opportunities. The key to success is being highly motivated, but do not just let it be led by career perspectives; find something that strikes you as interesting, every single day.

“You’re never going to be good at something you don’t like. So you better find a passion. If you want to succeed in life and in business, find a passion,” Beer encourages.

Frequently asked questions

How many years does it take to become an actuary?

It can take over a decade to become an actuary fellow, but the exact timeline depends on one’s preparation habits. While continuing to balance work and life, one may expect to take an examination every few months to achieve associate and then fellow status.

Do actuaries make a lot of money?

Yes, actuaries tend to make six figures just a few years after obtaining their undergraduate degree. Those who get on a pathway to becoming an actuarial fellow should expect to experience high-paying salaries for most of their life. And if a management position is in your future, pay can be especially high.

Is becoming an actuary hard?

Yes, becoming an actuary is not easy. It takes many years of studying for about 10 competitive examinations to become a full-fledged actuary. However, many top companies that hire actuaries have built-in support for individuals, like time off to study as well as promotions for exam passage. 

[nonalcoholicaficionado]

Inside Pilot Project Brewing: How They Helped Launch MASH GANG in the US!

➤ In this episode, we sit down with the visionary CEO of Pilot Project Brewing, Dan Abel. This trailblazing incubator brewery is based in Chicago and Milwaukee. Known for their commitment to fostering innovation, Pilot Project is redefining the craft brewing industry by empowering startup breweries to bring their unique ideas to life. From creating non alcoholic favorites like Mash Gang to supporting diverse and creative beverage concepts, they’re paving the way for the future of brewing.

Join us as we dive into:

***The mission behind Pilot Project and how they support emerging brewers ***What it takes to bring a new craft brew to market, from idea to production ***Insights into the non alcoholic scene, with a spotlight on the collaboration with Mash Gang ***How Pilot Project’s unique approach is driving creativity and experimentation in the industry

If you enjoyed this video don't forget to SUBSCRIBE ✅ LIKE 👍, and SHARE 🔗 for more NA beverage reviews! Here's to discovering new brews and embracing the vibrant world of Non Alcoholic beer!

Cheers🍻

#na #beer #podcast