MoreThanWaste.com - Glass recycling benefits as bulk wine imports take off (28/09/2007)

" By encouraging the industry to bulk import wine and bottle it here in the UK, we are reducing the amount of green glass entering our recycling systems, increasing the domestic market for recycled glass and also increasing the use of lighter weight bottles, which use less raw material and are better for the environment"

Andy Dawe, WRAP’s head of retail programmes

Bulk importing of wine into the UK has shown important and significantly increases in the last 12 months, according to WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).

This means an extra 20,000 tonnes of lightweighted glass bottles being produced in the UK and the consumption of an additional 14,000 tonnes of recycled glass, thereby stimulating the recycling market and saving on carbon emissions.

Statistics from WRAP’s GlassRite Wine project show that the number of 75cl bottles filled with bulk imported wine increased by 54% between July 2006 and June 2007 when compared with the the previous 12 months.

Launched in 2006, GlassRite encourages wine importers, brand owners and retailers to bulk import wine and then bottle it in lighter glass bottles manufactured in the UK.

Back in May this year, WRAP published “Bottling Wine in a Changing Climate” which showed significant reductions of 30% to 40% in CO2 emissions from transport savings through the bulk importation of wine. Added to this lighter glass bottles have the potential to achieve reductions of up to 30%.

WRAP says that even greater reductions are possible by combining the benefits of bulk shipping and bottling in the UK into the lightest 300g glass bottles. Amazingly this can result in 375g CO2 savings for every single 75cl bottle of wine!

This project is part of WRAP’s work 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.

Comments

Andy Dawe, WRAP’s head of retail programmes, said:

“This is very encouraging as it demonstrates that the work of all the GlassRite Wine partners is delivering real results.

“By encouraging the industry to bulk import wine and bottle it here in the UK, we are reducing the amount of green glass entering our recycling systems, increasing the domestic market for recycled glass and also increasing the use of lighter weight bottles, which use less raw material and are better for the environment.”

He added: “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.”

The news has been welcomed by the UK glass sector. British Glass director general David Workman said:
“Bulk importing is not only good for brand owners, but is also good for consumers and has benefits for glass makers. Bulk importing and the associated lightweighting of glass bottles demonstrates the flexibility of the glass packaging industry to work closely with partners and customers to deliver significant environmental benefits throughout the supply chain."

Further information

More information on all of the WRAP Retail Team’s programmes can be found at www.wrap.org.uk/retail.


	Glass recycling benefits as bulk wine imports take off (28/09/2007) " By encouraging the industry to bulk import wine and bottle it here in the UK, we are reducing the amount of green glass entering our recycling systems, increasing the domestic market for recycled glass and also increasing the use of lighter weight bottles, which use less raw material and are better for the environment" Andy Dawe, WRAP’s head of retail programmes Bulk importing of wine into the UK has shown important and significantly increases in the last 12 months, according to WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme). This means an extra 20,000 tonnes of lightweighted glass bottles being produced in the UK and the consumption of an additional 14,000 tonnes of recycled glass, thereby stimulating the recycling market and saving on carbon emissions. Statistics from WRAP’s GlassRite Wine project show that the number of 75cl bottles filled with bulk imported wine increased by 54% between July 2006 and June 2007 when compared with the the previous 12 months. Launched in 2006, GlassRite encourages wine importers, brand owners and retailers to bulk import wine and then bottle it in lighter glass bottles manufactured in the UK. Back in May this year, WRAP published “Bottling Wine in a Changing Climate” which showed significant reductions of 30% to 40% in CO2 emissions from transport savings through the bulk importation of wine. Added to this lighter glass bottles have the potential to achieve reductions of up to 30%. WRAP says that even greater reductions are possible by combining the benefits of bulk shipping and bottling in the UK into the lightest 300g glass bottles. Amazingly this can result in 375g CO2 savings for every single 75cl bottle of wine! This project is part of WRAP’s work 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. Comments Andy Dawe, WRAP’s head of retail programmes, said: “This is very encouraging as it demonstrates that the work of all the GlassRite Wine partners is delivering real results. “By encouraging the industry to bulk import wine and bottle it here in the UK, we are reducing the amount of green glass entering our recycling systems, increasing the domestic market for recycled glass and also increasing the use of lighter weight bottles, which use less raw material and are better for the environment.” He added: “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.” The news has been welcomed by the UK glass sector. British Glass director general David Workman said: “Bulk importing is not only good for brand owners, but is also good for consumers and has benefits for glass makers. Bulk importing and the associated lightweighting of glass bottles demonstrates the flexibility of the glass packaging industry to work closely with partners and customers to deliver significant environmental benefits throughout the supply chain." Further information More information on all of the WRAP Retail Team’s programmes can be found at www.wrap.org.uk/retail.