Mr. David Kinder reports

BIG ROCK BREWERY EMBRACES SUSTAINABILITY WITH NEW "EARTHRINGS" PACKAGING

Big Rock Brewery Inc. has taken steps toward enhanced sustainability by switching its four-, six- and eight-pack products from plastic ring bindings to Earthrings.

Earthrings, designed to reduce packaging waste, are crafted from multiple layers of solid fiber cardboard with a biodegradable, moisture-resistant coating. These are 100 per cent recyclable, compostable and made with environmentally friendly inks, providing an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic packaging.

Earthrings provide several key benefits:

• Reduced environmental impact: Earthrings decompose naturally, helping to reduce landfill waste and ocean pollution.
• Versatility in disposal: They can be easily recycled or composted, offering flexibility for consumers and minimizing negative environmental impact.
• Durability and strength: Despite being eco-friendly, Earthrings are designed to securely hold and protect beverage cans, maintaining the quality Big Rock drinkers expect.
• Reduced packaging waste: It is estimated this transition will divert 23,529 kilograms of packaging waste annually from the landfill.

In May of this year, Big Rock installed two new pieces of equipment that automatically bind our cans with Earthrings. These machines are designed and manufactured in North America and are readily equipped to handle the transition to this environmentally friendly solution.

David Kinder, Big Rock's president and chief executive officer, noted: "This transition aligns with Big Rock Brewery's commitment to reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable practices. The installation of the equipment to affix Earthrings to our products represents about one-half of our capital budget this year and will help uphold the quality and presentation of Big Rock Brewery products while also supporting our environmental goals and allow us to comply with the ban on single-use plastics."

Big Rock also announced today that, having completed a review of its distribution model, effective June 17, 2024, it will now be distributing products from a cross-docking facility in Edmonton through a partnership with Hy-Line Express Ltd. No interruption in service is anticipated.

About Big Rock Brewery Inc.

In 1985, Ed McNally founded Big Rock to contest the time's beer trends. Three bold, European-inspired offerings -- bitter, porter and traditional ale -- forged an industry at a time heavy on easy drinking lagers and light on flavour.