What is being done to
improve packaging?
Although packaging plays an essential role
in protecting and containing products, in
most cases it is in the interest of product
manufacturers to cut out unnecessary
packaging. Not only is it better for the
environment, but it can also save them money.
There are a number of ways that producers can reduce
their packaging:
■■ By concentrating the product as is now common with
detergents, household cleaners and squashes so that
the same benefit can be got from a smaller package.
■■ By changing the design of the packaging so that it
uses less material, for example by providing coffee in
pouches to refill a glass jar.
■■ In some cases the environmental impact can actually
be reduced by using more packaging. For example,
20% of grapes used to go to waste in store when they
were sold as loose bunches. Most now are packed
in bags or boxes, which means fewer grapes get
squashed before they get home and the packaging
can even help keep the grapes fresh when they
get home.
This work has been going on for many years e.g.
washing-up liquid bottles are 58% lighter, cardboard
boxes are 14% lighter and drinks cans are 50% lighter
than in the 1970s.
Key fact
In 2009 the UK recycled 62% of
its packaging waste a massive
increase from the 28% achieved
in 1997.
More recently many organisations have been working
with WRAP to reduce both household food waste and the
impact of packaging, resulting in a voluntary agreement
known as the Courtauld Commitment. Nearly 50 major
retailers, brand owners and manufacturers from the food
and drink sector have now agreed to support a second
phase of the Courtauld Commitment to reduce the carbon
impact of food waste and packaging.
For further details please visit -
www.wrap.org.uk/courtauld
Printed on 100% recycled paper
What is being done to improve packaging?
The Co-operative
22%
less
Case Studies: Coop glass ale bottles
The Co-operative introduced lighter glass bottles
on their premium ale range. This resulted in annual
savings of around 138 tonnes of glass.
Working with Freeminer Brewery, The Co-operative
has reduced the bottle weight of its 500ml
Goldminer, Organic and Bumble Bee Honey Ales
by 22% from an original weight of 385g and
reduced its 422g Strong Ale bottle by nearly 30%.
Other breweries have done similar things too (see
Courtauld Case Studies).
385g
300g
Asda Wal*Mart
Asda Wal*Mart – Glass Containers
Asda has achieved a 20% reduction in its own-label
packaging, with a particular focus on cutting the
weight of the glass they used.
Asda has worked with suppliers, advisory bodies
and academics to prove that lightweight glass
packaging can be delivered to market without
affecting quality or sales. It has now reduced the
weight of glass packaging for sauces, pickles,
spices, coffee and wine bottles.
20%
less
20%
less
These initiatives have achieved an overall glass
reduction of 2,800 tonnes compared to 2005
For the full list of the latest case studies highlighting
the great work of the Courtauld signatories,
including retailers and brand owners, please go to
www.wrap.org.uk/courtauld
PkLf2.2011