Environment

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) has claimed that its GlassRite scheme has kick-started a "major change in the wine industry" by making lightweight bottles a "regular feature" on UK supermarket shelves.

Presenting the results of the first phase of the GlassRite scheme at the London International Wine Fair at Excel today (20 May), Wrap will reveal that bulk importing and lighter-weight bottles have cut CO2 emissions by 28,000 tonnes per year.

More than 350 different wine labels have moved to lighter-weight bottles during the project, resulting in a saving of 11,400 tonnes of glass per year.

The amount of wine imported in bulk into the UK and bottled over here has increased by 79 million glass bottles each year.

The first phase of the GlassRite programme was undertaken from summer 2006 to March 2008 under the management of British Glass and backed by the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

Wrap has worked with retailers Asda, Co-op, Morrisons and Tesco, as well as brand owners such as Constellation Europe, on 10 separate bulk importing and lightweighting initiatives.

Glass manufacturers such as Quinn Glass, wine fillers including Kingsland Wine & Spirits and logistics specialist Trans Ocean Distribution have also been involved in the scheme.

Nicola Jenkin, Wrap's beverages category manager, said GlassRite "has worked with the industry to illustrate that sustainable business practices do not have to compromise commercial values or quality".

The second phase of the scheme will run until November 2009 and will assess the viability of sub-300g wine bottles and lighter-weight champagne and sparkling wine bottles.

Wrap is on stand F94 at the London International Wine Fair, which takes place at Excel on 20-22 May.