Motivated by the knowledge the world’s beaches are retreating partly due to sand mining, DB Export is turning glass bottles, that can’t be recycled, into a sand substitute suitable for everyday use.

Bottle it

The resulting product, DB Export Beer Bottle Sand, is designed to lessen some of the impacts inflicted on the world’s beaches by sand dredging, which is used as a major component in roading, pathways, commercial and residential construction, pipe-laying, at-home DIY projects and even golf bunkers.

Stormy waters

The average person uses 200 kilograms of sand each year in the way of consumables and infrastructure, the majority of which is dredged. Like many other natural resources, beach sand is non-renewable and dredging causes a myriad of environmental impacts including the destruction of natural beaches and their eco systems (dunes, wetlands), increased coastal erosion, damage to sea life habitats and a reduction in protection from weather patterns and storms.

Eco wonder

Due to over consumption and black market exploitation, two thirds of the world’s beaches are retreating. Each year in New Zealand, 27 per cent of waste consumer glass isn’t recycled, due to soiling or incorrect disposal and instead finds its way into landfill. DB Export is using glass destined for landfills to create its first instalment of DB Export Beer Bottle Sand and aims to make 100 tonnes of sand substitute, the equivalent of more than half a million bottles.

“Our beautiful beaches are being dredged for its precious sand, which is used in many products and almost every construction project. DB Export Beer Bottle Sand is a simple initiative that we believe will have a big impact,” says Sean O’Donnell, DB Breweries’ marketing director. 

“We can’t solve the problem alone but we knew we could do more to help. Our ambition is to help drive more recycling whilst looking out for the beaches which are an integral part of our Kiwi DNA. We’re proud to launch an initiative that can help us do our bit to protect our beaches for future generations,” adds O’Donnell. 

Get involved

• Two types of sand will be made: the first a pure sand made of finely crushed bottles. With a particle size of between 0.4mm – 1.1mm, this can be used for golf bunkers, pipe bedding and sports field drainage among other purposes.
• The second type ,currently in development, is a sustainable concrete mixture solution made with DB Export’s project partner, New Zealand’s largest bagged concrete producer, DryMix. Both use DB Export Beer Bottle Sand as substitute for regular dredged sand and can be used for both consumer and industrial purposes.
• Specially created DB Export Beer Bottle Sand Machines will visit major cities so people can crush their beer bottles and see the sand that is created for themselves. You can find a schedule of where the machines will be on DB Export’s website.