Waitrose swaps glass packaging with aluminium cans for small wine format

The Waitrose supermarket chain is on a constructive journey to eradicate the glass packaging for small wine formats and replace them with aluminium beverage cans. This move will systematically remove more than 300 tonnes of glass.

Moreover, aluminium is 100% recyclable and can retain its original properties even after being run through rigorous transformation processes. This will definitely induce a circular economy. Aluminium cans are made of the purest version of aluminium, which means that recycling these new aluminium cans would yield a fresh batch of raw material for use in the commercial sector.

Barry Dick, MW, beer, wine and spirit bulk sourcing manager at Waitrose, declared: “We’re delighted to pioneer this move and make reducing waste even easier for our customers. Aluminium cans weigh significantly less than glass and create less than half the amount of CO2 than the equivalent single-use glass bottle; cans can also be recycled an infinite number of times.”

The step is to be taken only for the smaller wine variants available in glass bottles, while Waitrose’s Champagne chain will remain untouched.

“We know that more people are buying their drinks in canned formats from cocktails on the go to craft beer which is why making this shift in our wine category makes so much sense. Picking up a can of wine is a great way to enjoy wine in moderation, especially if you’re heading to a picnic or a social occasion; it also enables customers to try a new variety without worrying about wastage or cost. We hope the move will encourage suppliers to continue to develop a diverse and exciting range of wines in cans,” Barry Dick ended his statement.

A can format usually is much more appreciated by a standard user because of its mobility quotient and disposability. Like the previously used glass packaging solutions, aluminium is also non-porous and odour-free, which keeps the fine texture of the wine intact. Also, there is a lower risk of the shipment getting trashed or broken.