Reducing our packaging

As part of our commitment to reducing our environmental impact, CCE has joined with some of the UK's biggest brands, manufacturers and retailers to continue our support for the Courtauld Commitment. This is a voluntary agreement with WRAP - the Waste and Resources Action Programme - that supports less packaging and food waste becoming household refuse.

As part of this commitment, Coca-Cola Enterprises agreed to continue to work in partnership with WRAP to achieve the following objectives:

To eliminate packaging waste growth by 2008 - a target we achieved
To deliver absolute reductions in packaging waste by 2010.

This supports WRAP in its objective to deliver more sustainable use of resources over the life of a product by aligning corporate strategies and goals. In fact, in 2008 they announced that the grocery sector had halted packaging growth and was on track to decrease packaging and food waste by 2010.

In 2010 Coca-Cola Enterprises signed up to the second phase of the Courtauld Commitment.

Re-designing our Packaging

Our aim is to reduce the weight of our packaging without compromising its quality. Over the last few years we have worked hard to achieve this by using the latest technology to re-design and reduce the weight of our packaging as far as technically possible. This process is known as 'lightweighting our packaging' and avoiding the use of materials reduces our packaging carbon emissions and also our costs.

In 2010 we trialled the removal of cardboard trays from our cases of PET bottles. In 2011, we will remove trays from our 500ml PET packages which will save 2,500 tonnes per year

We have reduced the weight of our 500ml PET bottle to 24 grams (down from 39 grams in 1994). As a result we save more than 3,900 metric tons of PET each year (based on current volume)

We have reduced the weight of our 330ml Coca-Cola glass contour bottle, which now weights 210 gram (down from 263 grams), making it 20% lighter, slightly shorter and more impact-resistant. This new Ultra design cuts our CO2 emissions by 2,200 tonnes, roughly the equivalent of the emissions of 365 UK homes

Working with our project partners BCME (Beverage Can Makers Europe) and supported by WRAP, we've been able to produce aluminium cans that are 5% lighter. The can 'wall' is now the thickness of a human hair.

Packaging Reduction

We’ve been working to steadily reduce the amount of packaging materials we use over the years – our 500ml plastic bottles have shrunk from 39g (1994) to 24g and our Coca-Cola glass contour bottles are now 20% lighter than they were in 2007.

Packaging Reduction

Look for ways of cutting down the amount of packaging you consume by choosing loose fruit and veg and always reusing carrier bags or taking a reusable shopping bag out with you

Copyright © Coca-Cola Enterprises Limited 2011. All brand names are registered trade marks of their respective owners. Beverage Services Limited (Coca-Cola Great Britain) Registered Office: 1 Queen Caroline Street, London, W6 9HQ, incorporated in England, Registered Number 2072395. © 2011 Coca-Cola Enterprises Registered Office: Charter Place, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1EZ in England, number 27173.