German breweries are imploring customers to return their empty beer bottles, NYT reported.

There is a shortage of beer bottles in Germany and it's getting more costly to source new bottles.

The conflict in Ukraine, which supplies Germany with glass, has played a role in the shortage.

German breweries are begging buyers to return their empty crates of beer bottles amid ongoing shortages.

The New York Times reported the news.

Energy prices for the manufacture of glass have played a role in the shortage, as has the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which supplies German brewers with glass.

Russian blockades of Ukrainian ports have also hampered exports out of the country, threatening a global food crisis that could become catastrophic.

"It is deadly for small brewers," Stefan Fritsche, who runs a German brewery, told the Times, citing difficulties in getting customers to lug their empty crates back to the stores.

In a statement sent to Insider, general manager of the German Brewers' Association, Holger Eichele, said the shortages were "indirectly related" to the conflict in Ukraine.

"It is a fact that unfortunately several glass factories in Ukraine have been destroyed by Russian attacks or had to close down and therefore can no longer deliver to Western Europe. This has increased the overall demand for glass products and glass containers in Germany as well," the statement added.

Eichele also cited reduced activity at factories as a result of rising energy costs as a reason for the shortages, which was also pushing up the price of glass bottles.

Breweries without supply contracts are paying 80% - 90% more for new bottles than they did last year, Eichele added in the statement.

The manager said there was no indication that beer production would be curbed, but added that it was becoming harder for brewers to "maintain the supply chain."

Breweries are tapping into Germany's deposit system to encourage more customers to return their empties. Under the system, buyers pay a deposit of either 8 or 15 euro cents (around $0.08 - $0.15) for a returnable glass bottle, which they can later claim back, often in the form of store vouchers.

Most people allow bottles to accumulate before returning them and redeeming their money in one go.

"The climate-friendly reusable system in Germany is unique in the world. Unfortunately, it is also uniquely expensive at present," Eichele said.

Some breweries have thought about upping the surcharge to persuade more people to return their empties, while other have been forced to increase the price of a crate of beer, the Times added.

"Every empty crate that comes back prevents us from having to buy a new one," a representative for one brewery told The Times.

The conflict has also increased the cost of other commodities and raw materials produced in Russia and Ukraine. This includes fertilizer, wheat, and sunflower oil — as supplies from both countries have been slashed.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The bonuses also came with a request to "help us stay cost competitive" while on the job, Construction Dive reported.

Stanley Druckenmiller said he's taking a break from trading as he thinks we'll be in bear market for a while and recession is coming.

As inflation continues to hammer the U.S., some Americans are pulling back on their retirement savings and investments.

After moving to Mumbai six years ago and giving birth for the first time, a new mom learned how India supports postpartum women.

ExxonMobil raised gasoline prices by 40 cents in 24 hours, Ren's Mobil owner told Western Mass News after sticking "out of gas" posters on the pumps.

Chinese social media users warmly welcomed the move, with many saying that they would show their "full support" for the initiative.

Jeremy Bertino said Trump's comment to "stand by" made the group's numbers grow "exponentially," with "potential for a lot more eventually."

President Joe Biden authorized use of the Defense Production Act to ramp up production of several climate-friendly technologies. Werner Slocum/NRELSolar panels, heat pumps and hydrogen are all building blocks of a clean energy economy. But are they truly “essential to the national defense”? President Joe Biden proclaimed that they are in early June when he authorized using the Defense Production Act to ramp up their production in the U.S., along with insulation and power grid components. As an e

"Everyone talks about sensitive documents and the like. I don't destroy anything," Joe Biden told Jimmy Kimmel.

VALENTYNA ROMANENKO - FRIDAY, 10 JUNE, 2022, 14:45 In the event of the capture of the Kiev Oblast, the Russians planned to create an occupation administration and organise a pseudo-referendum to proclaim the local republic.

The star of 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' reflects on Steven Spielberg's 1982 blockbuster on its 40th anniversary.

Yep, it's true.View Entire Post ›

"Our economy will be open — whoever isn't interested will be robbing themselves," Putin said as Russia faces a slew of sanctions over the Ukraine war.

“Bigger names have shared that stage and don’t act as if someone owes them something.”View Entire Post ›

Putin said shortly before invading Ukraine that it had nothing to do with territory. On Thursday, he said it was his destiny to expand Russia.

Fox News said its primetime shows would not be carrying the January 6 hearing live, and left its hosts to comment on it instead.

Sure, Eichner doesn't have Foxx at his defense, but he does have "Rosie O’Donnell and the entire Gay Men’s Chorus!"

The author shares how looking at what European countries offer made her question what her children's future could look like with dual citizenship.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suggested he is open to empowering the state's child protective services to investigate parents who take their children to drag shows.

The case sparked wide debate online over the value of domestic work, with many saying the compensation was too little for seven years of labor.