Diageo joins trial to make sustainable glass Scotch whisky bottles

Drinks giant Diageo has announced it is collaborating on a pilot project to produce the lowest carbon footprint glass bottles.

The collaboration with glass manufacturer Encirc and industry research and technology body Glass Futures used waste-based biofuel-powered furnaces to reduce the carbon footprint of the bottle-making process by up to 90%.

The trial used Diageo’s Black & White Scotch whisky brand and produced 173,000 Black & White bottles, also using 100% recycled glass, making the batch the most environmentally-friendly ever produced for a Scotch whisky brand.

Further work now continues to develop and scale the trial for future production.

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, said: “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.”