Welcome to the second GlassRite newsletter. GlassRite is an umbrella project, supported by WRAP, working with, and supported by major retailers, brands, packer-fillers and glass manufacturers in the alcohol, soft drinks and food sectors. It aims to save 60,000 tonnes of glass from the UK waste stream through lightweighting glass containers, by the Spring of 2008.

This newsletter provides an update on the activities underway within the GlassRite suite of projects. Some significant benefits have been realised by major brands and retailers, such as Coca Cola, Constellation, Mars, SABMiller, Scottish & Newcastle and Tesco. The optimisation of their brands or own-label containers has lead to benefits in the supply chain:

• cost savings;
• resource efficiency;
• CO2 reductions; and
• reduction in transport costs.

These examples clearly illustrate the benefits and opportunities for branded and generic products. If you are inspired by these developments please read on to find out more, and to discover the opportunities to optimise or report your achievements under GlassRite.

Glass availability:

There has been much concern in the wine and some food sectors over the current availability of glass packaging. Find out more here.

GlassRite: Beer, Cider & Spirits:

• SABMiller rightweight Miller Genuine Draught bottle.
• Scottish & Newcastle introduce a 14% lighter bottle for Strongbow and Strongbow Sirrus brands.
• Marstons introduce a new rightweight 500ml ale bottle for their range.
• Wells & Young's rightweight the 660ml Cobra bottle - following the successful rightweighting of the 330ml bottle.
• Frederic Robinsons Ltd lead a rightweighting initiative for a 'consortium bottle' which is used by Black Sheep Brewery and Broughton Ales amongst others.

Find out more about these trials and the latest research here

GlassRite: Food, Soft Drinks & RTD:

• Iconic Coca-Cola glass bottle sheds tonnes of weight.
• Mars rightweight Uncle Ben's sauce jar.
• A E Chapman & Son delivers 1,800 tonnes of glass saved on mineral water range.
• Agent QC helps optimise filling line compatibility of lightweighted bottles.

Find out more about these trials and research here

• Broadland Wineries to launch rightweighted bottle for sparkling wine in the UK.
• Vina Ventisquero rightweight in Chile for the UK market.
• Lightweighting progress continues with Tesco, Constellation, Morrisons and PLB Wines.
• 54% increase year-on-year in the number of 75cl bottles filled with bulk imported wine in the UK.
• In conjunction with the bulk importation trials a piece of research is being carried out on the quality implications, or not, associated with bulk importation of wine.

Find out more about these trials and research here

Want to get in touch?

If you would like to find out more about the GlassRite projects or to get involved, please call 01295 819609 or e-mail glassrite@wrap.org.uk

GlassRite projects overview

The International Brewing Convention

WRAP exhibited at The International Brewing Convention in Manchester in early October; WRAP also held a successful briefing session at the Convention entitled 'Bottling beer in a changing climate'. Click here to see the presentations.

Glass Action

Around 50 delegates met in late October to forge links in the glass supply chain. Click here to see the presentations from the day.

News Releases:

Major Increase in Bulk Importing of Wine, says WRAP:

Mars Cuts Glass Jar Weight With Support From WRAP

We hope you have enjoyed reading our newsletter. If you would like to give us feedback about our work or make an enquiry, please email retail@wrap.org.uk. Click here to unsubscribe.

While steps have been taken to ensure its accuracy, WRAP cannot accept responsibility or be held liable to any person for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with this information being inaccurate, incomplete or misleading. For more detail, please refer to our Terms & Conditions on our website - www.wrap.org.uk