Revolutionizing Sustainability: Vetropack Introduces Lightweight Returnable Glass Bottle to Meet Austrian Brewing Industry Quotas
In a groundbreaking move towards sustainability, European glass manufacturer Vetropack has unveiled a 0.33-litre returnable glass bottle, set to become a standard solution for the Austrian brewing industry. This innovative bottle weighs one-third less than its conventional reusable counterpart, with over two-thirds of the material used in production being recycled glass. The introduction of these bottles is a strategic response to Austria’s mandatory returnables quota implemented at the beginning of this year, offering economic and environmental advantages by reducing logistics costs, shortening transport routes, and promoting resource efficiency to lower CO2 emissions.
Vetropack’s Echovai technology is employed in the tempering process, ensuring the bottles remain robust while significantly reducing their weight. Erich Jaquemar, Strategic Account Manager at Vetropack in Austria, highlights the bottle’s exceptional attributes, stating, “The bottle is around 30% lighter than a traditional reusable bottle and has at least the same or better pressure and impact resistance. Due to fewer scuff marks on the contact surfaces, it can achieve around 20% more refill loops compared to conventional containers. At the same time, the bottle’s stability offers a plus in food safety.”
The bottle’s design, developed in collaboration with key stakeholders such as Logistikverbund Mehrweg, the Austrian Brewers Association, and industry leaders like Stiegl, Egger, and Ottakring Brewery under the guidance of Austrian brewery company Brau Union, mirrors a downsized version of the standard 0.5-litre returnable beer bottle with a height of 212 mm. This new standard enables stacking six tiers of crates on each pallet, reducing transport costs and CO2 emissions. The bottle’s weight, at 210 grams, facilitates more rows of crates per pallet, further contributing to sustainability efforts.
Critical tests related to stackability, storability, and refilling were conducted at Brau Union’s Wieselburg brewery. Gabriela Maria Straka, Director Corporate Affairs, ESG Sustainability, and member of the Management Board at Brau Union Österreich, emphasizes the ecological and economic benefits, stating, “Buying reusable instead of disposable bottles saves valuable resources and up to 75% of CO2 emissions. With the bottle developed by our partner Vetropack, we are presenting a more ecological and economically attractive alternative to all those for whom shape, size, or weight were previously an argument against reusable bottles.”
Source: GlassBalkan