2Sustain

Marks & Spencer is now the first retailer to convert its entire range of mini (25cl) still wine bottles to PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

The company estimates that this move will save 525 tonnes of packaging a year. Plus, because the PET bottles are 88 percent lighter than glass bottles and require less energy to manufacture, Marks & Spencer plans to see reductions in the carbon footprint of production, transport and distribution, as well.

Marks & Spencer worked in partnership with Paul Sapin and Roger Harris Wines for more than two years to develop the new technology behind the bottles, which are guaranteed to keep wine fresh for at least 12 months.  The innovative packaging design includes an oxygen barrier material sandwiched between two layers of PET. These three layers give the wine a significantly longer shelf life than would be possible with traditional PET.

In addition to their eco-friendly characteristics, Marks & Spencer thinks consumers will like the new PET bottles because they are lightweight and shatterproof.

“This is a really exciting step for M&S – our research has shown that our customers really like the greater convenience of lighter weight bottles – and with summer around the corner, we’re hoping they prove a real hit,” says Belinda Kleinig, Marks & Spencer winemaker.

More details about the company’s sustainability initiatives, outlined in the now iconic “Plan A,” are available here.