Big Brands Work With WRAP To Refresh Packaging
31 May 2007
Top brands, bottle manufacturers, retailers and technology experts have teamed up with WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) to explore ways of taking 20,000 tonnes of glass from beer, cider and spirit packaging from the UK waste stream by March 2008.
Called GlassRite Beer, Cider & Spirits, the project will investigate the technical, economic and marketing aspects of lighter weight packaging.
The project brings together some of the biggest names in the industry, and currently includes Scottish & Newcastle, Anheuser Busch, Coors UK and SAB Miller, spirits producers Whyte & MacKay as well as ale brewers Hall & Woodhouse and Fullers and Robinsons.
Taking in the complete supply chain, the project also involves supermarket chain Morrisons and all of the UK’s major glass packaging manufacturers -Allied Glass, Beatson Clark, Quinn Glass, Rockware and O-I.
In addition, it is supported by trade associations the British Glass Manufacturers’ Confederation, the British Beer and Pub Association, the Gin and Vodka Association and Scotch Whisky Association and is led by Glass Technology Services (GTS).
Commenting on the initiative, WRAP project manager, Nicola Jenkin, said: “Being able to involve so many major players from across the supply chain in this project is further evidence that optimising packaging is a major priority for the industry.”
She added: “Our research has shown that if each glass container in the UK was just ten per cent lighter, we could save 250,000 tonnes of glass per year and reduce carbon emissions by 180,000 tonnes. Alcoholic drinks bottles make up a large proportion of that, so this project has huge potential.”
GTS project manager, Gordon Watts, said: “The high level of enthusiasm throughout the supply chain for this project is extremely encouraging, and we look forward to converting lightweighting aspirations into reality over the coming months.”
GlassRite Beer, Cider & Spirits will use consumer perception research, bottle performance testing, filling trials and commercial viability assessments to identify and solve issues surrounding lightweighting glass containers. Cost and carbon emissions savings will also be evaluated. Technology providers under the project will include GTS, consumer perception specialists at the University of Bangor and brewing experts at Brewing Research International.
GlassRite Beer, Cider and Spirits is one of three GlassRite projects. The other projects – GlassRite Food, Soft Drinks & Flavoured Alcoholic Beverages and GlassRite Wine – look at ways of optimising packaging from their respective supply chains. Together, the GlassRite projects aim to reduce the weight of glass packaging by 60,000 tonnes by March 2008.
The projects follow WRAP’s highly successful ContainerLite project which demonstrated that significant glass packaging weight savings can be made without compromising pack strength or brand integrity. As a direct result, brewer Adnams reduced the weight of its 500ml bottle for ales such as Adnams Bitter, Explorer and Broadside by 34 per cent - an initiative which has already won two industry awards.
For more information, please visit www.wrap.org/retail or phone 0808 100 2040.
Called GlassRite Beer, Cider & Spirits, the project will investigate the technical, economic and marketing aspects of lighter weight packaging.
The project brings together some of the biggest names in the industry, and currently includes Scottish & Newcastle, Anheuser Busch, Coors UK and SAB Miller, spirits producers Whyte & MacKay as well as ale brewers Hall & Woodhouse and Fullers and Robinsons.
Taking in the complete supply chain, the project also involves supermarket chain Morrisons and all of the UK’s major glass packaging manufacturers -Allied Glass, Beatson Clark, Quinn Glass, Rockware and O-I.
In addition, it is supported by trade associations the British Glass Manufacturers’ Confederation, the British Beer and Pub Association, the Gin and Vodka Association and Scotch Whisky Association and is led by Glass Technology Services (GTS).
Commenting on the initiative, WRAP project manager, Nicola Jenkin, said: “Being able to involve so many major players from across the supply chain in this project is further evidence that optimising packaging is a major priority for the industry.”
She added: “Our research has shown that if each glass container in the UK was just ten per cent lighter, we could save 250,000 tonnes of glass per year and reduce carbon emissions by 180,000 tonnes. Alcoholic drinks bottles make up a large proportion of that, so this project has huge potential.”
GTS project manager, Gordon Watts, said: “The high level of enthusiasm throughout the supply chain for this project is extremely encouraging, and we look forward to converting lightweighting aspirations into reality over the coming months.”
GlassRite Beer, Cider & Spirits will use consumer perception research, bottle performance testing, filling trials and commercial viability assessments to identify and solve issues surrounding lightweighting glass containers. Cost and carbon emissions savings will also be evaluated. Technology providers under the project will include GTS, consumer perception specialists at the University of Bangor and brewing experts at Brewing Research International.
GlassRite Beer, Cider and Spirits is one of three GlassRite projects. The other projects – GlassRite Food, Soft Drinks & Flavoured Alcoholic Beverages and GlassRite Wine – look at ways of optimising packaging from their respective supply chains. Together, the GlassRite projects aim to reduce the weight of glass packaging by 60,000 tonnes by March 2008.
The projects follow WRAP’s highly successful ContainerLite project which demonstrated that significant glass packaging weight savings can be made without compromising pack strength or brand integrity. As a direct result, brewer Adnams reduced the weight of its 500ml bottle for ales such as Adnams Bitter, Explorer and Broadside by 34 per cent - an initiative which has already won two industry awards.
For more information, please visit www.wrap.org/retail or phone 0808 100 2040.
Editor's notes:
- WRAP works in partnership to encourage and enable businesses and consumers to be more efficient in their use of materials and recycle more things more often. This helps to minimise landfill, reduce carbon emissions and improve our environment.
- Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by Government funding from Defra and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Working in seven key areas (Construction, Retail, Manufacturing, Organics, Business Growth, Behavioural Change, and Local Authority Support), WRAP’s work focuses on market development and support to drive forward recycling and materials resource efficiency within these sectors, as well as wider communications and awareness activities including the multi-media national Recycle Now campaign for England.
- More information on all of WRAP’s programmes can be found at www.wrap.org.uk
- GTS (www.glass-ts.com) specialises in technical aspects of the glass supply chain including product performance, glass analysis, glass melting and energy and environmental consultancy services.
Richard Truman or Michael Bennett
Pelican Public Relations Ltd
Tel: 01457 820807
rt@pelicanpr.co.uk
Press Office
Senior Press Officer
WRAP
Tel: 01295 819695
press.office@wrap.org.uk
