Member Focus: Laithwaite’s Wine achieve circular economy for cardboard packaging

Our longstanding packaging compliance scheme member, Laithwaite’s Wine, spearhead the move to a circular economy, implementing a closed-loop recycling system for their cardboard packaging

Established over 50 years ago, Laithwaite’s Wine are the UK’s leading specialist retailer for home delivery of wine, champagne and spirits, enabling customers to order online, as well as shop in-store at one of their multiple branches across England.

In a world that is becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, Laithwaite’s have sustainability at the forefront of their business outlook and have acted upon this to achieve tangible progress in reducing the company’s packaging waste.

Working alongside packaging solutions provider DS Smith, in 2019 Laithwaite’s successfully implemented a closed-loop system for their cardboard packaging utilising their Gloucester distribution centre, allowing just under 500 tonnes of waste cardboard to be recycled and reused as new corrugated cardboard packaging, fulfilling the circular economy definition of eradicating waste and ensuring materials are continual resources. This process takes less than 14 days with an effective supply chain and in 2020, it is expected that over 1000 tonnes of carboard will flow through this impressive system.

Underpinning this, Laithwaite’s have been awarded certification for their closed-loop recycling initiative meaning the process is completely auditable and traceable, further supporting their dedication to sustainability and ensuring their cardboard waste packaging generates maximum value.

Additionally, eliminating plastic from their packaging flows was a key sustainability aim for Laithwaite’s and DS Smith were able to support them in producing augmented cardboard packaging to provide sufficient protection for their products during transit to customers, removing the need for plastics.

Comply Direct are thrilled to work with a company placing high importance on sustainability and who are taking a circular economy approach to their business operations; Laithwaite’s are flying the flag for companies looking to reduce their packaging waste and it’s encouraging to see another business making positive change happen for the greater environmental good.

Read more about Laithwaite’s Wine and the products they provide HERE

For more details on DS Smith’s role in this closed-loop system, please click HERE