06 Apr 2024 UK: Aldi’s flat & stackable wine bottles
Aldi’s new flat and stackable wine bottles “make light work of heavy shopping baskets”….
Collaborating with packaging company, Packamama, Aldi has rolled out the “UK’s first” supermarket own-brand flat wine bottles within its Chapter & Verse label.
The recyclable ergonomic packaging concept is made from 100% rPET and available for shiraz and chardonnay options.
Targeting picnics and BBQ occasions, the new flat bottles weigh 63g, making them “nearly seven times lighter and stronger than a standard glass bottle,” while being completely shatterproof, according to Aldi.
“We know shoppers are looking for greener, more sustainable products and our aim is to continue to deliver this, while offering great value and enhanced functionality. We’re pleased to be taking the next step in expanding our recyclable, eco-friendly range,” says Julie Ashfield, managing director of Buying at Aldi UK.
Ergonomic stacking and organising
The collaboration reportedly removed 42 metric tons of bottle weight for the launch.
The compact design allows 30% more bottles to be loaded onto pallets and transported to supermarkets, Aldi highlights. Converting to these innovative bottles compared to standard round glass takes “30% of trucks off the road”.
The shape of the packaging allows shoppers to stack and organise bottles in their homes, optimising storage space without lessening the volume of a traditional wine bottle.
The supermarket has also introduced its Chassaux et Fils Méditerranée Rosé in an rPET bottle. “Eight times lighter than the average 75 cl glass bottle, the launch will help to remove 18.15 metric tons of bottle weight,” highlights the chain.
Alongside these new plastic bottles, Aldi is reducing the average bottle weight of all its still wine products by 8%. The process has already started and will be completed by 2025, the company discloses.
Lightweight in vogue
Reducing wine bottle weight promises gains on materials costs and environmental sustainability, while lightening the physical load for grocery shoppers.
The trend is reflected across the alcoholic beverage sector. Carlsberg tipped lightweighting measures to reduce material use and cut carbon emissions as one critical aspect of its green roadmap in February.
In the same month, Owens-Illinois Glass (O-I Glass) launched its Estampe wine bottle on the French market, weighing approximately 390g. The bottle is “well below” the average weight of typical wine bottles. Its weight reduction translates to a 25% decrease in overall carbon emissions compared to conventional 500 g wine bottles.
Source: Food Ingredients First
Another packaging first for Aldi in the UK
In another interesting packaging move, Aldi has also launched two own-label wines in paper bottles, another UK supermarket first.
The Cambalala South African Shiraz and Cambalala South African Sauvignon Blanc (both at £7.99, 75cl) were on shelf from 18 March – which is Global Recycling Day.
Made from 94% recycled paperboard and lined with a food-grade pouch to contain the wine, the new bottles are fully recyclable and five times lighter than a standard glass bottle.
Aldi has worked with Frugalpac on the supermarket-first initiative. The Ipswich based company is on a mission reduce the impact of carbon on the planet through engineering sustainable packaging, using recycled paper, that is both light in weight and easy to recycle again.