Tesco backs lightweight Champagne bottles

Supermarket giant Tesco has announced the arrival of its first lighter-weight Champagne bottles to UK shelves.

The lightweight bottle initiative, led by the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), will see a 7.2% weight reduction in standard 75cl Champagne bottles, taking them from 900g to 830g.

Tesco has supported the programme by using the new lightweight bottle for its own-label De Vallois Champagne.

This forms part of a sustainability drive for Tesco, which will see all of its Champagne bottles light-weighted over the next few years.

The conversion will help to reduce glass waste, cut carbon emissions and lower transportation costs.

“We are delighted to be expanding our existing lightweight bottle range to include Champagne bottles, and expect to see all UK stock in this format within the next few years,” said Andrew Gale, Tesco’s category technical manager for beers, wines and spirits.

“We are fully committed to reducing glass waste across our entire drinks portfolio and are working closely with our suppliers to deliver significant CO2 reductions throughout our supply chain,” Gale added.

Tesco hit the headlines last year when the retailer introduced the lightest ever wine bottle onto its shelves, weighing just 300g, compared to a standard 420g bottle.