The new bottle has been developed for AB InBev's Beck’s and Beck’s Blue brands, and will reduce the glass packaging weight thereof from 185g to 165g.
According to Ardagh, the weight reduction on 130m bottles per year will save 2,642 tonnes of glass, which is an equivalent weight saving to over 200 modern UK double-decker buses.
The new lighter bottle will be produced in Nienburg, Germany, and its introduction will also remove 1,940 tonnes of CO2 from the annual manufacturing process, packaging giant Ardagh added.
Ardagh said it made use of advanced analytical design tools to achieve the 20g weight reduction, while designers were also able to add value by incorporating a new label panel, and retain the outline body shape and neck profile of the previous design.
Fabienne Rollot, marketing director, Beck’s Western Europe, said that the brand was always looking for ways to innovate.
“This change is just one of the ways in which we are improving our environmental performance and making our iconic green bottles even greener,” he said.
Inge Plochaet, president, AB InBev UK & Ireland, said: “The lighter Beck’s bottles will make a tangible contribution to this effort and represent another significant step towards realizing our ambition to become the best beer company in a better world.”