Bridge Road Brewers' entirely cardboard pop-up bar raises the bar for sustainability

Bridge Road Brewers has opened a new bar in Melbourne that's a feat of sustainable engineering: it's made almost entirely of cardboard.

Bridge Road co-founder Ben Kraus says above all, the temporary Brunswick East venue is a neighbourhood bar, but he and his team decided on cardboard furniture after asking what they would do with the pop-up material once it was over.

"Hopefully people might think in their everyday life, if they need temporary furniture, maybe we can go down this path of cardboard," he says.

While pop-up venues are an attractive way for businesses to get noticed, their waste is less desirable.

A Bar Made of Cardboard features 75 per cent recycled cardboard that's sturdy enough for stools, tables, bar tops and beer spills.

"Everyone wants to see if it's waterproof. Hopefully they won't tip whole beers on it," jokes Kraus.

It's not a two-dimensional fit-out of flattened cardboard, either. Textured walls, scalloped lamp shades and even mock wall pipes have been fabricated by Boxwars, who have built bars for events, hosted cardboard armour "battles" and even created replica Formula 1 cars.

The only non-cardboard materials in the venue are beer taps, fridges and dishwashers.

The bar is a temporary home for Bridge Road Brewers while its 500-square-metre brew pub is built next door. Due for completion in December, it will seat 350 across formal, informal and outdoor spaces and serve limited-release beers plus food including pizza.

The pop-up is pouring six of the Beechworth brewery's beers, but it's also a city calling card for fellow High Country producers including Barking Owl Gin, Beechworth Bitters and Sorrenberg wine. Food will come from Beatbox Kitchen, Pie Thief and other food trucks.

When the pop-up ends in six months, the cardboard will be repurposed, recycled or composted by suppliers Kebet Packaging, while the hardware like the fridges will be used in the permanent venue.

Open from April 22, Wed-Fri 4pm-late, Sat-Sun noon-late.

129 Nicholson Street, Brunswick East, bridgeroadbrewers.com.au