Morrisons puts a cap on CO2 emissions

Morrisons has become the first major UK supermarket chain to introduce the 'Green Leaf' screw cap closure to its own-brand wine as part of the group's ongoing carbon reduction initiatives.


The Green Leaf screw cap, previously trialled in Italy, Australia and New Zealand, uses 64% less aluminium than a standard screw cap and can be completely removed from the bottle, making it easier to recycle.

It will also take up less space when being transported, equating to a 60% reduction in the size of cap shipments to the bottling plant, minimising Morrisons’ CO2 footprint.

“This new launch is proof of our ambition to drive innovation in the category which our BWS team has worked hard to keep fresh and relevant to our customers,” said Morrisons’ BWS category director Steve Mosey. “We are proud to take responsibility for our own carbon reduction while keeping prices low.”

The new seal, created using the same technology and construction materials as the standard screw cap, will be implemented onto Morrisons’ own-brand Soave 75cl wine. As the bottling process remains the same, neither the price or the quality of the wine is affected, meaning customers will notice no difference.

Green focus

Packaging Development Manager Steve Jackson added: “Carbon reduction is highly important in all areas of our business and I am very pleased to have worked with the BWS team to launch this new closure. It is an exciting new development in our ongoing efforts to reduce the environmental impact of Morrisons own brand packaging.”

The Green Leaf closure is the latest of Morrisons’ ongoing sustainability initiatives, with previous green-focused activity including the signing of WRAP’s ‘Courtauld Commitment 3’ which seeks to improve packaging design to maximise recycled content, improve recyclability and deliver product protection to reduce food waste, while ensuring there is no increase in the carbon impact of packaging by 2015.

Morrisons was also the first major UK supermarket to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard – a programme by which the supermarket aims to reduce total emissions by 30% before 2020.

Morrisons Soave wine with the new Green Leaf closure is now available in stores nationwide with an RRP of £3.99.

Luke Nicholls

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