Supermarket giant Tesco is to stock lightweight wine bottles in an attempt to meet its waste reduction commitments.
Reducing glass waste helps retailers meet their obligations under the Courtauld Commitment on packaging waste reduction. By 2010 Tesco aims to have 25% of all the wine bottles it sells cut down in weight, saving 72,000 tonnes of glass a year. It is claimed by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) that lightweight bottles produce environmental benefits because less energy goes into their production and distribution.
Tesco technical manager for beers, wines and spirits Andy Gale said: Glass is by far the heaviest component of our packaging waste and we believe we can make a substantial contribution to our target by reducing the weight of these containers.
Advances in glass making technology means we can make significant savings greater than 30% per bottle in some cases.
Tesco is working in partnership with WRAP on their GlassRite campaign which aims to encourage business and consumers to be more efficient in their use of materials.
The supermarket chain has recently completed a lightweighting trial with its own label producer Kingsland Wines & Spirits and its glass manufacturer Quinn Glass. This trial has seen a permanent reduction of 2600 tonnes of glass per year.
WRAPs head of retail programmes Andy Dawe said: The GlassRite wine project is an important part of WRAPs work with leading retailers and manufacturers to demonstrate that packaging can be optimised without affecting consumer perception or product quality.
Previous story, More brewers launch lightweight beer bottles, 14/01/08
Reducing glass waste helps retailers meet their obligations under the Courtauld Commitment on packaging waste reduction. By 2010 Tesco aims to have 25% of all the wine bottles it sells cut down in weight, saving 72,000 tonnes of glass a year. It is claimed by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) that lightweight bottles produce environmental benefits because less energy goes into their production and distribution.
Tesco technical manager for beers, wines and spirits Andy Gale said: Glass is by far the heaviest component of our packaging waste and we believe we can make a substantial contribution to our target by reducing the weight of these containers.
Advances in glass making technology means we can make significant savings greater than 30% per bottle in some cases.
Tesco is working in partnership with WRAP on their GlassRite campaign which aims to encourage business and consumers to be more efficient in their use of materials.
The supermarket chain has recently completed a lightweighting trial with its own label producer Kingsland Wines & Spirits and its glass manufacturer Quinn Glass. This trial has seen a permanent reduction of 2600 tonnes of glass per year.
WRAPs head of retail programmes Andy Dawe said: The GlassRite wine project is an important part of WRAPs work with leading retailers and manufacturers to demonstrate that packaging can be optimised without affecting consumer perception or product quality.
Previous story, More brewers launch lightweight beer bottles, 14/01/08
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