Tesco goes lightweight

Published: 13 January, 2010

Tesco is rolling out the lightest glass wine bottle available in the UK on its own-label ranges.

Tesco is rolling out the lightest glass wine bottle available in the UK on its own-label ranges.

The 300g bottles, which are significantly lighter than the average 500g bottle, is being launched following a collaborative project with WRAP, Kingsland Wine and Spirits and Quinn Glass.

The new bottles are 30% lighter than Tesco's previous lightest own-label bottle and Kingsland anticipate its introduction will reduce the supermarket's glass usage by a further 560 tonnes annually.

"Tesco has one of the largest wine ranges of any retailer and a traditional 12 bottle case weighs about 6kg in glass alone, presenting a real opportunity for us to make a difference. We have committed to bottling all entry level New World wines in the new 300g option," says Andrew Gale, category technical manager for beers, wines and spirits.

In order to reduce the weight whilst retaining the strength and durability necessary for a wine bottle, the classic shape has been adjusted with more steadily sloping shoulders and is a little shorter overall.

Gale continues: "Our customers tell us they are happy to buy lighter bottles so it is unnecessary to support marketing through glass weight. We are also working with suppliers to discourage the use of heavyweight bottles even on branded products."

Bottling in the new 300g glass bottles is one of the final stages in Tesco's strategy to significantly reduce carbon emissions on wines brought into stores. Already the majority of New World wines are shipped to the UK in bulk and bottled in the UK, rather than bottled at source.

The first wine on shelf to use the new bottle will be Tesco Australian Red NV, a soft easy-drinking red.

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