03 December 2007
Iconic Coca-Cola Glass Bottle Sheds Tonnes Of Weight In Environmental Makeover
As part of its commitment to reducing packaging waste, Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd (CCE) is reducing the weight of its iconic 330ml glass 'Coca-Cola' Contour Bottle by a fifth, which will lead to savings of over 3,500 tonnes of glass raw material and an estimated 2,200 tonnes of CO2* per year - equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of 365** UK homes.
All new glass bottles of 330ml 'Coca-Cola', diet 'Coke' and 'Coca-Cola Zero' are now being made to the new specifications, known as the 'Ultra' design. The new bottle weighs 20% less, having been reduced from 263g to 210g, and, in order to maintain its trade-marked dimensions, is 0.1mm wider and around 13mm shorter than the original.
First developed in 1916, the 'Coca-Cola' Contour Bottle is one of the most recognised icons in the world today. The new lightweight Ultra bottles have been developed using new design software that helps determine the stress points and optimum weight of a glass bottle, allowing technicians to create both the strongest and lightest viable design.
Gareth Snowdon, 'Coca-Cola' Supply Chain project manager for CCE, said: "We are looking at ways to reduce the impact of our business on the environment at every level. Our commitment to this is such that we are prepared to adapt even our most precious assets, including the glass 'Coca-Cola' Contour Bottle.
"Advances in technology have allowed us to improve upon the famous design, preserving its iconic contour shape whilst making it a fifth lighter and enabling significant reductions in the amount of glass raw material used and the levels of CO2 emitted in production. Not only that, but there is no compromise on quality so the new bottle, whilst being lighter, will be just as strong - if not stronger - than the original."
"This is a great achievement by the team at CCE and demonstrates that iconic packaging, such as the "Coke" bottle, can be optimised while building brand values. It provides a strong lead to the current momentum within the food and drink sector to deliver major environmental and supply chain benefits that customers are increasingly demanding," said Richard Swannell, Director of Retail and Organics Programmes at WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), a not-for-profit organisation that works with businesses to help minimise waste and promote the efficient use of raw materials.
The Ultra technology uses a set of principles which can be used on all glass designs to improve performance and reduce the glass weight per bottle. All new carbonated soft drinks glass bottles produced by CCE will now be based on the Ultra technology, which has already been successfully implemented in many markets around the world.
In June this year, CCE signed the Courtauld Commitment - a voluntary agreement on reducing packaging, which has been signed by 26 leading brand owners, manufacturers and retailers. It aims to stop the increase in packaging waste by 2008 and bring about absolute reductions by 2010.
CCE is committed to minimising the environmental impact of business activities and products and to integrating principles of environmental stewardship and sustainable development into day-to-day business operations. This work is part of the Coca-Cola System's corporate responsibility and sustainability strategy in Great Britain.
Notes to Editors:
1. *WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme)
2. ** Energy Savings Trust
3. The 330ml glass 'Coca-Cola' Contour Bottle measurement comparisons:
Original design bottle:
Height 218.6mm
Width 63mm
Weight 263g
'Ultra' design bottle:
Height 205.3mm
Width 63.1mm
Weight 210g
4. The 330ml glass bottles for the 'Fanta' and 'Sprite' brands have recently been lightweighted from 225g to 210g. 'Schweppes' glass bottles underwent the Ultra design optimisation process in 2003.
5. Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd is a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc, the world's largest marketer, producer and distributor of the products of The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC). Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd manufactures and distributes TCCC products (as well as products for other brand-owners) throughout England, Scotland and Wales and employs 4,600 people in its factories, depots and office sites.
6. 'Coca-Cola', 'Coke', 'diet Coke', 'diet Coca-Cola', 'Fanta' and the design of the 'Coca-Cola' Contour Bottle are registered trade marks of The Coca-Cola Company.
7. 'Schweppes' is a registered trade mark of Atlantic Industries.
All new glass bottles of 330ml 'Coca-Cola', diet 'Coke' and 'Coca-Cola Zero' are now being made to the new specifications, known as the 'Ultra' design. The new bottle weighs 20% less, having been reduced from 263g to 210g, and, in order to maintain its trade-marked dimensions, is 0.1mm wider and around 13mm shorter than the original.
First developed in 1916, the 'Coca-Cola' Contour Bottle is one of the most recognised icons in the world today. The new lightweight Ultra bottles have been developed using new design software that helps determine the stress points and optimum weight of a glass bottle, allowing technicians to create both the strongest and lightest viable design.
Gareth Snowdon, 'Coca-Cola' Supply Chain project manager for CCE, said: "We are looking at ways to reduce the impact of our business on the environment at every level. Our commitment to this is such that we are prepared to adapt even our most precious assets, including the glass 'Coca-Cola' Contour Bottle.
"Advances in technology have allowed us to improve upon the famous design, preserving its iconic contour shape whilst making it a fifth lighter and enabling significant reductions in the amount of glass raw material used and the levels of CO2 emitted in production. Not only that, but there is no compromise on quality so the new bottle, whilst being lighter, will be just as strong - if not stronger - than the original."
"This is a great achievement by the team at CCE and demonstrates that iconic packaging, such as the "Coke" bottle, can be optimised while building brand values. It provides a strong lead to the current momentum within the food and drink sector to deliver major environmental and supply chain benefits that customers are increasingly demanding," said Richard Swannell, Director of Retail and Organics Programmes at WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), a not-for-profit organisation that works with businesses to help minimise waste and promote the efficient use of raw materials.
The Ultra technology uses a set of principles which can be used on all glass designs to improve performance and reduce the glass weight per bottle. All new carbonated soft drinks glass bottles produced by CCE will now be based on the Ultra technology, which has already been successfully implemented in many markets around the world.
In June this year, CCE signed the Courtauld Commitment - a voluntary agreement on reducing packaging, which has been signed by 26 leading brand owners, manufacturers and retailers. It aims to stop the increase in packaging waste by 2008 and bring about absolute reductions by 2010.
CCE is committed to minimising the environmental impact of business activities and products and to integrating principles of environmental stewardship and sustainable development into day-to-day business operations. This work is part of the Coca-Cola System's corporate responsibility and sustainability strategy in Great Britain.
Notes to Editors:
1. *WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme)
2. ** Energy Savings Trust
3. The 330ml glass 'Coca-Cola' Contour Bottle measurement comparisons:
Original design bottle:
Height 218.6mm
Width 63mm
Weight 263g
'Ultra' design bottle:
Height 205.3mm
Width 63.1mm
Weight 210g
4. The 330ml glass bottles for the 'Fanta' and 'Sprite' brands have recently been lightweighted from 225g to 210g. 'Schweppes' glass bottles underwent the Ultra design optimisation process in 2003.
5. Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd is a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc, the world's largest marketer, producer and distributor of the products of The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC). Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd manufactures and distributes TCCC products (as well as products for other brand-owners) throughout England, Scotland and Wales and employs 4,600 people in its factories, depots and office sites.
6. 'Coca-Cola', 'Coke', 'diet Coke', 'diet Coca-Cola', 'Fanta' and the design of the 'Coca-Cola' Contour Bottle are registered trade marks of The Coca-Cola Company.
7. 'Schweppes' is a registered trade mark of Atlantic Industries.
