Co-op weighs up switch to plastic bottles

Published: 05 March, 2009

The Co-operative Group is considering moving more of its own-label spirits to plastic bottles after introducing PET packaging for its 35cl Special Dry Imperial Vodka.

The existing glass bottle weighs 265g, compared to 40g for the plastic version which appears in stores on March 9 - an 85% reduction.

The Co-op said this will mean an annual saving of 270 tonnes of glass and will reduce the energy needed to transport the bottles "and provide a safer alternative to glass". The CO2 saving is estimated at around 69 tonnes.

Last year more than 100,000 Co-op members and customers said action to safeguard the environment was one of their top priorities and 97% endorsed the organisation's aim of reducing waste and increasing recycling.

Vicky Wood, category marketing manager for beverages, said: "This is yet another packaging reduction achievement for The Co-operative and one which I'm sure our environmentally-conscious customers will welcome.

"If the introduction of the 35cl plastic vodka bottle is successful, we will look to rolling PET packaging out to other 35cl spirit bottles, as well as extending it to other sizes."

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