Yes Wine, No Glass

Marks & Spencer uncorks carbon-saving plastic wine bottles
Marks & Spencer switches its entire range of miniature wine bottles from glass to plastic in attempt to cut carbon and reduce waste levels

Jessica Shankleman, BusinessGreen, 05 May 2010
Glass wine bottles could be on their way to history's recycling bin after retail giant Marks & Spencer announced that it was to abandon glass in favour of greener, lightweight plastic for its entire range of miniature 25cl wine bottles.

The company said that it has spent two years developing a new plastic technology known as MLP PET with Paul Sapin and Roger Harris Wines that could keep wine drinkable in a plastic bottle for up to a year.

The pioneering technology is made with two layers of Polyethylene Terephthalate, that sandwich a barrier material that prevents oxygen entering the bottles and spoiling the wine.

"Traditionally, PET has been used for sporting events or in-flight catering where there is a very fast turnover, but with the new oxygen barrier technology, it is now possible to achieve a significantly longer shelf life," M&S said in a statement.

M&S said it hopes to save 525 tonnes of packaging per year by switching to the plastic bottles.

The company failed to provide exact information on how much carbon the new technology would save, but Roger Harris Wines said it would "dramatically reduce " carbon emissions on the grounds that the new bottles are less energy intensive manufacture and are 88 per cent lighter than glass, which means that they result in lower carbon emissions during transport.

A spokeswoman refused to confirm if the company plans to roll out the new material for its larger 75cl bottles.

However, the switch for mini bottles is particularly timely as it coincides with the start of the summer when demand for small wine bottles is expected to rise as more people will be drinking outdoors at picnics and music festivals.