The world's largest manufacturer of drinks cans, Rexam Beverage Can, has developed an aluminium bottle it claims will boast a significantly smaller carbon footprint than traditional glass bottles.
John Revess, vice president of marketing and environmental affairs for the company in Europe, told BusinessGreen.com that talks were underway with a number of customers about using the bottle for beer, carbonated drinks and even wine.
"We need to build a customer base if we are to move to manufacture," he said. "But there has already been strong interest and we are hoping to get customers in place over the next six months."
He said the aluminium bottles would be "an order of magnitude" lighter than glass bottles, adding that the prototype bottle developed by the company weighed just 20 grams.
"As it is lighter, you get huge carbon and energy savings across the supply chain through manufacture and distribution," Revess argued. "Aluminium is also easier to recycle than glass and can be recycled again and again."
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