PACK YOUR BAGS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Lightweighting can be taken too far. Sometimes it leads to floppy bottles and squishy cans. But until recycling rates improve, drinks manufacturers are right to reduce their use of materials as far as possible. Bags are fast becoming a serious new option, judging by two news items 1 saw in the UK trade press during August. One was Kraft’s Eco Refill packs, which now account for a quarter of all Kenco coffee retail sales and use 97% less packaging weight than their equivalent in glass. The other was Sainsbury introducing bags for its full range of milks, saving consumers 6 pence for 2 pints and using 75% less packaging. Bagsy.