Beer and spirit producer Diageo is the latest company to collaborate with glass manufacturer Encirc and Glass Futures to use biofuel-powered furnaces to reduce the carbon footprint of the bottle-making process by up to 90%.
The trial produced 173,000 Black & White bottles, that also used 100% recycled glass, reportedly making the batch the most environmentally-friendly ever produced for a Scotch whisky brand.
Following the success of the trial, Diageo agreed a 10-year partnership to accelerate collaboration and innovation in the glass industry.
John Aird, Senior Packaging Technologist at Diageo said: “We are committed to creating a sustainable future for our business and that includes looking for innovative new ways to make our bottles and packaging that reduces the carbon footprint of our products.
“This trial is just a first step in the journey to decarbonise this aspect of our supply chain and we still have a long way to go, but we are delighted with the results of the collaboration and the platform it creates for future innovation.
“We see Glass Futures as a great opportunity to develop new technology and to help deliver net zero glass manufacturing and we are delighted to support them in that mission.”
Adrian Curry, Managing Director at Encirc added: “This is a truly momentous occasion for glass.
“We have set the standard globally with this trial and now the glass industry needs to work towards realising what we’ve proved is possible.
“We now know that glass can be the most sustainable of all packaging types and must all work together to ensure that happens.”
Diageo’s support for Glass Futures is part of our commitment to transforming packaging sustainability.
The company recently announced its Society 2030: Spirit of Progress sustainability plan for a decade of action to tackle climate change, which includes environmental goals such as being net zero emissions from all direct operations by 2030.
