1 - More - Bulk - Less - Bottle - 7p - 1 Pers
1 - More - Bulk - Less - Bottle - 7p - 1 Pers
1 - More - Bulk - Less - Bottle - 7p - 1 Pers
Who is WRAP?
WRAP is a government-funded programme that aims to accelerate
resource efficiency by creating efficient markets for recycled
materials and products, while removing barriers to waste
minimisation, re-use and recycling. We work with the public
sector and industry.
Why wine?
The Courtauld Commitment
UK wine consumption is a major contributor, via glass bottles, to
the domestic waste stream. Recycled glass from the predominantly
The Courtauld Commitment was
green bottles in which this wine comes, cannot be used in flint
signed by 92% of the UK retail sector.
(clear) glass production, which dominates UK manufacture. In other
The signatories commit to supporting
words, there is not enough high value, domestic demand for all the
WRAP in the achievement of its
green glass waste currently produced in the UK.
objectives, as follows:
Reducing glass waste would help major retailers meet their
- To design out packaging waste
obligations under the Courtauld Commitment on packaging waste
growth by 2008.
reduction, to which they gave their pledge in the summer of 2005.
- To deliver absolute reductions
Reducing the number of wine bottles going to landfill will also
in packaging waste by 2010.
represent a major step towards the UK as a whole meeting its EU
- To identify ways to tackle the
Packaging Directive target. Under this directive, 60% of the nation’s
problem of food waste.
waste glass must be recycled by 2008, or serious financial penalties
will be triggered.
4. Taking an average weight of 500g, • The lightweighting of wine bottles currently being produced
the annual contribution of own- within the UK and in the country of origin for sale in the
label wines to the glass waste UK market.
stream would be approximately
55,000 tonnes. • Increase bulk importation of wine (retailers own-label
and brands from New World producers) and bottle in the UK
in domestically manufactured bottles.
Lightweighting
Wine bottles display a large variation in weight. By simply
lightweighting wine bottles and using less glass in the first place, Example: Savings if one of South
substantial tonnage savings could be made. Africa’s top selling branded
Chenin Blanc/Chardonnay
WRAP’s research found that the weight of a 75cl wine bottle can vary bottle was lightweighted
between 300g and 900g. If the majority of bottles were produced to at source to 300g:
the lower benchmark weight the volume of glass used in imported
wine bottles could be reduced by 110,000 tonnes every year. – Estimated total material cost
savings: £259,000 pa.
– PRN savings: £10,000 pa.
Weights by bottling location
– Potential glass savings:
1000 810 tonnes.
900 – Possible carbon savings:
Bottle weight (g)
800
700 570 tonnes.
600
500 Note: Calculations based on
400
300 2.8 million bottles.
200
100
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Maximum Weight
N
Minimum Weight
Country bottled Average Weight
BottleBottle
weight
weightagainst purchase
against purchase price price
£5. 00
(£) (£)
£4. 00
price
Purchase price
£3. 00
Purchase
£2. 00
£1. 00
£0. 00
200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Bottle weight (g)
Bottle weight (g)
Importing in bulk
The use of bulk importation is already well-established in the
UK wine trade, with the activity being driven by price-conscious Example: Savings if just one of
retailers. Total bulk imports into the UK currently stand at Australia’s top selling
around 210 million litres, or 20% of total sales. branded Chardonnay wines
were to be bulk imported
There are attractive costs savings associated with bulk into the UK and the bottle
shipments. Shipping costs are reduced by up to 40%, the EU’s lightweighted to 300g:
common custom tariff is levied at a lower rate on containers
with a volume exceeding 2 litres, and UK bottle prices are often – Estimated total transport
lower than those in the producer country. Some of the Top and material cost savings:
50 selling brands in the UK could make between 35% to 47% £1,200,000 pa of which,
savings on their total distribution costs if they imported their 63% is attributed to savings
wine into the UK in bulk. on transport.
– PRN savings: £16,000 pa.
Bulk containerisation has the greatest potential positive benefit on – Potential glass savings:
cullet (waste glass) recovery in the UK, and this is maximised if the 1,300 tonnes.
wine is bottled in green bottles manufactured in the UK. Filling the – Possible carbon savings:
wine in UK-produced green bottles would provide the additional 1,220 tonnes.
benefit of increasing the demand for green cullet. Recycling glass
back to the furnaces saves valuable raw materials, reduces energy Note: Calculations based on
consumption and lowers carbon emissions. 5.4 million bottles.
Next steps
“The wine and spirits WRAP can provide further information on trials and consumer
perception studies undertaken to date on bottle lightweighting,
industry is committed to bulk importing and other issues touched on in this summary report.
Sources:
Information for this summary was extracted
from research carried out for WRAP by
AC Nielsen, James Ross Consulting, Glass
Technology Services (British Glass) and
Oakdene Hollins.
Waste & Resources The Old Academy, Tel: 01295 819900 Helpline freephone
Action Programme 21 Horse Fair, Fax: 01295 819911 0808 100 2040
Banbury, Oxon E-mail: [email protected]
OX16 0AH
www.wrap.org.uk/retail