EC businesses have been forced to look at their environmental credentials since 1994 when the EC implemented the Packaging & Packaging Waste Directive in a bid to reduce the impact of waste on the environment. In the UK, this led to the implementation of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regs 1997. Although most drinks businesses are working hard to comply with the regulations & meet the targets set by DEFRA, not everyone has. 7 drinks companies are currently being prosecuted by the EA. Apart from regulatory motivation, there is also a financial impetus to reduce packaging. One of the cost cutting measures employed by the wine industry is to use lightweight glass bottles. WRAP is working with the wine trade to reduce the amount of glass waste in the UK. British glass manufacturers produced 724,517/t glass for use by the wine & spirits industry during 2006, this is obviously an important area to target from a cost-saving and environmental perspective.
