// Waitrose will replace the majority of its small wine bottles with aluminium cans
// Last year, Waitrose said customers purchased nearly three million small bottles of wine
Waitrose will replace the majority of its small wine bottles with aluminium cans in an effort to save 320 tonnes of packaging.
The grocer said the majority of small wine formats (apart from Champagne. Prosecco and Cava, and Rioja, due to appellation restrictions) will be moved from glass bottles to aluminium cans from 15 January.
Last year, Waitrose said customers purchased nearly three million small bottles of wine across both still and sparkling categories.
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Waitrose MW, Beer, Wine and Spirit Bulk Sourcing Manager, Barry Dick said: “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.
“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.”
