Packs and Closures

The Co-operative has switched to lighter-weight bottles for its own-brand ales, which it claims will save more than 130 tonnes of glass and 90 tonnes of carbon emissions a year.

The retailer's own-label ales include Fairtrade Bumble Bee Honey Ale, Organic Fairtrade Premium Ale and Goldminer Ale produced by the Freeminer microbrewery in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

O-I is manufacturing the new 500ml bottles that, at 300g, are 22% lighter than the previous version.

The Co-operative's range also includes an Extra Strong Ale produced by Daniel Thwaites of Blackburn, which will be available in the lighter bottle in the near future.

The bottles will also carry new labels as part of the relaunch that will be complete by the end of September.

The lightweighting initiative follows the publication of the retailer's Food Ethical Policy earlier this year, based on the world's largest consumer poll on ethics.

More than 100,000 Co-operative members and customers said action to safeguard the environment was one of their top priorities and 97% endorsed the retailer's aim to reduce waste and increase recycling.

As a result of the poll, the Co-operative announced that it was dramatically reducing the weight of its own-brand wine bottles, having already launched a new 298g bottle, produced by Ardagh Glass, for its own-label whisky in 2007.

Co-operative category marketing manager for beverages Vicky Wood said the Food Ethical Policy results proved that members and customers feel strongly about packaging reduction.

"This move proves it is possible for packaging to be resource-efficient, without compromising product quality or consumer appeal," she added.