"By encouraging the industry to bulk import wine and bottle it here in the UK, we can reduce the amount of green glass entering our recycling systems and also increase the use of lighter weight bottles, which use less raw material and are better for the environment"
Andy Dawe, WRAP’s Glass Technology Manager
Bulk importing of wine into the UK delivers significant reductions in CO2 emissions according to a new WRAP report, but savings can vary significantly depending on the transport and packaging used.
The report, “Bottling Wine in a Changing Climate”, illustrates where reductions in the wine trade’s transport and packaging carbon footprint can be made. An analysis is unertaken of the footprint of wine imported from the Berri Estate in Australia and the Bordeaux region in France, and demonstrates key areas where savings can be made through the use of bulk containers or bottling at source, lighter glass bottles and method of transport chosen.
Significant reductions of 30% to 40% CO2 emissions from the transportation of wine can be achieved by converting wine from shipping in bottles to bulk importation. In addition, lighter glass bottles can achieve reductions of up to 30%.
However, even greater reductions are possible by combining these strategies. For instance, combining the benefits of bulk shipping and bottling in the UK into the lightest 300g bottles can result in 375g CO2 savings for every 75cl bottle of wine.
The study is a key stage in WRAP’s GlassRite programme. Launched in 2006, it is encouraging the lightweighting of wine bottles sold in the UK, and encourages more wine importers, brand owners and retailers to bulk import wine and then bottle it in lighter glass bottles manufactured in the UK.
By analysing the different transport and packaging options available the study has established benchmark figures that can help importers reduce their carbon footprint.
Andy Dawe, WRAP’s Glass Technology Manager, said: “This report is important because it allows importers to make informed decisions about cutting their emissions.
“By encouraging the industry to bulk import wine and bottle it here in the UK, we can reduce the amount of green glass entering our recycling systems and also increase the use of lighter weight bottles, which use less raw material and are better for the environment.”
“As well as cutting glass waste, this approach also improves the industry’s carbon emissions profile, and saves money by reducing transport and energy costs.”
WRAP says that the impact of the GlassRite project is already being felt with Constellation and Tesco, Asda and Somerfield engaged in a series of commercial trials to look at the issues surrounding bulk importing and lightweighting.
The organisation is also spearheading the use of lighter glass packaging in other food and drink sectors, including spirits and beer. Through this initiative, Rockware Glass produced the first commercially available 70cl spirits bottle to weigh less than 300 grams, Coors Brewers Ltd reduced the weight of its 300ml Grolsch beer bottle by 23%, and Adnams Brewery adopted a new ‘best in class’ lightweight bottle for its 500ml Broadside, Explorer and The Bitter brands.
WRAP is also working with retailers, brand owners, manufacturers and packaging suppliers to identify collaborative projects whose primary aim is to reduce the amount of food and packaging waste that ends up in the household bin and maximising the recycling of packaging.
Further information
The study will be made available at the London International Wine & Spirits Fair (LIWSF) with further discussion taking place at WRAP’s briefing session “Bottling Wine in a Changing Climate”, to be held at 1.30pm on Tuesday 22nd May in the Waterfront Room (W11/1) at London’s ExCeL exhibition centre.