'Wine in a box': Waitrose cans mini bottles of wine in a carbon-reducing measure

Waitrose is canning the mini bottle of wine in an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of on-the-go beverages.

The supermarket plans to replace all of its 187ml glass wine bottles – except those containing champagne, prosecco, cava and rioja due to the restrictions imposed by these particular appellations – to aluminum cans by the week next. Cans will be available in 187ml, 200ml and 250ml sizes.

Switching to "canned wine" is expected to save over 300 tonnes of packaging glass and halve the carbon footprint per drink as recyclable cans require less energy to transport as they are lighter and take up less space than bottles.

The move comes after the popularization of 'gin in a tin' and other canned cocktails, especially during pandemic shutdowns, has prompted outdoor drinking and picnicking.

Beverage makers have sought alternative packaging as the price of glass has nearly tripled since the start of the pandemic amid increased demand for materials other than plastic packaging.

The price of aluminum has also increased, but by about a third, according to data. from letsrecycle.com. Waitrose said the change in policy would not necessarily save money because filling a can costs more.

Barry Dick, bulk supply manager at beer, wine and spirits at Waitrose, which bought 3 million small bottles of wine last year, said: "We are delighted to be the first to make this decision and to make it even easier to reduce waste for our customers. We know that more and more people are buying their drinks canned, from on-the-go cocktails to craft beers, which is why this change to our wine category makes so much sense.

"Having a can of wine is a great way to enjoy wine in moderation, especially if you're heading to a picnic or social occasion. It also allows customers to try a new variety without worrying about waste or cost. We hope this decision will encourage suppliers to continue to develop a diverse and exciting range of wines in cans.

The new cans will feature a wide range of grape choices, including white, red and rosé Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.

In the UK, around three quarters of aluminum cans and glass bottles are recycled, mostly through local authorities. collections, according to the government.

While cans and bottles can be infinitely recyclable (with glass sorting plants now able to ensure that the material can be used to make new bottles, according to the waste and resource action program) in the past, much of the glass waste was used for the construction of aggregates.

Scotland and Wales plan to include glass bottles in deposit schemes due to launch this summer and next year respectively, but the UK government has said it will not the case for English and Northern Ireland versions, which will focus on plastic bottles.