AGP-Europe unveils innovative lightweight wine bottles

EUROPE – Ardagh Glass Packaging-Europe (AGP-Europe), a division of Ardagh Group, has introduced a new range of lightweight wine bottles for the European market.

Produced at AGP’s Germersheim facility in Germany, the collection includes 750ml Bordeaux and Schlegel bottles, which have been significantly reduced from 410g to 360g.

These bottles are made with up to 80% recycled glass cullet, resulting in a 12% reduction in carbon emissions per bottle.

The Bordeaux variant is available with both screw cap and cork finishes, while the Schlegel bottle is offered exclusively with a screw cap.

Customers can choose from several color options for the Schlegel bottle, including flint, antique green, standard green, and a unique royal blue.

The new bottles complement AGP-Europe’s existing lightweight offerings, such as the 345g wine bottle produced in the UK.

According to Stuart Santon, AGP-Europe’s Chief Commercial Officer, these new lightweight bottles offer customers versatility and choice while significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with glass packaging.

AGP-Europe recently secured a long-term virtual power purchase agreement with Rezolv Energy, a clean energy producer in line with its sustainability goals.

Earlier this year, AGP announced a 64% reduction in CO₂ emissions from its glass bottles, thanks to the advanced NextGen Furnace technology, saving approximately 18,000 tonnes of CO₂ since the start of 2024.

Johnnie Walker’s lightweight whisky bottle innovation

In a similar move towards sustainability, Johnnie Walker has launched a limited edition Blue Label Ultra bottle, which it claims is the world’s lightest 70cl Scotch whisky glass bottle.

Developed in collaboration with external glass makers, the bottle features a unique teardrop shape, departing from the traditional square design of Johnnie Walker bottles.

As part of Diageo’s Spirit of Progress action plan, the bottle’s design aims to reduce glass usage and cut carbon emissions associated with packaging.

According to British Glass, for every gram of glass reduced, more than half a gram of carbon emissions can be saved during production.

Although the technology for mass-producing these ultra-light bottles is still under development, Johnnie Walker has secured a UK patent for the design.

In an effort to promote industry-wide innovation, Diageo plans to offer the patent license royalty-free, encouraging other companies to adopt similar sustainability practices.

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