Inspired by a local tradition of treating hair with natural plants and herbs, Alicorp is launching Anua, a line of five shampoos and conditioners made from natural ingredients like aloe vera, honey, avocado and oatmeal. Design firm Raison Pure (www.raisonpure.com) created a shape that enhances the natural aspect of the ingredients. The soft curve of the 350-mL bottle gives life and movement, like the wind in plants or grass, and is an invitation to take the product in your hand. Yobel Supply Chain Management (www.yobel.com.pe) supplied the HDPE bottle; caps are from Seaquist (www.seaquistclosures.com).

Suffolk, UK-based brewer Adnams is widely recognized for its commitment to sustainability. The company recently introduced a line of its ales in lightweight glass bottles using new technology from O-I (www.o-i.com). At 10.55 ounces, the brand’s new 500-mL amber glass bottles are more than 1.4 ounces lighter than the previous best weight for ale bottles and more than 3.5 ounces lighter than most bottles in the category.

The resulting container retains the bullet-shaped profile readily associated with the Adnams brand. The sharply flared heel and body shape create an excellent size impression, even when compared to the products’ previous 15.87-ounce container. As a result of the move, Adnams has reduced the amount of glass going into the waste stream by more than 550 tons a year.

Tesco’s commitment to sustainability is part of an overriding corporate culture of social and ethical responsibility. The UK retailer works with its suppliers to source products that are priced competitively and produced to its exacting environmental and welfare standards—and adheres to these rigid guidelines for its own private label brands.

Tesco recently introduced a line of frozen vegetables in degradable packaging that will fully decompose after about four years in the normal domestic waste stream, compared to the 100+ years it takes a traditional bag to degrade. The 1.2-kg bags are flexo-printed and microwave safe.

Tampon brand Viriana has selected a biodegradable film that dissolves in wastewater to wrap its product. The material, NatureFlex from Innovia Films (www.innoviafilms.com), is manufactured from wood pulp from managed plantations and is said to fully biodegrade in water in less than 24 days.

Brand owner Tosama reports its selection of the material reflects consumer demand for more eco-friendly packaging. Says Tosama’s Gornik Franc, “One of [our] goals is to move towards using only biodegradable packaging materials that are friendly to the environment.”

Tesco offers up another eco-friendly package with the help of Amcor Flexibles (www.amcor.com). The original pack format for Tesco New Potatoes was changed to a more environmentally friendly, recyclable film, saving nearly 500 tons of polystyrene packaging per year in the process. The 1-kg vertical form/fill/seal bags are produced from a recyclable coextruded film and utilize Amcor P-Plus technology to maintain the freshness of the potatoes inside and maximize shelf appeal. The line includes Charlotte, Baby New, Miniature Baby New, Baby Bakers and Jersey Royal potatoes, when in season.

Belu Natural Mineral Water is packaged in what’s reported to be the UK’s first compostable bottle, made from NatureWorks PLA (www.natureworksllc.com).

“This can dramatically reduce the amount of rubbish going into landfills and gives everyone an easy way to help protect the environment,” says Mai Simonsen, one of the founding members of Belu.

The “Bio-bottle” is the latest initiative from London-based Belu, an environmental organization that contributes 100 percent of its net profits to clean water projects. Front and back labels are also made from a compostable material.