Cutting both costs and carbon emissions, British supermarket Waitrose shipped its new range of ‘Virtue’ wines from Chile in 24,000 liter flexitanks and bottled them in the UK. One tank equals 32,000 bottles—or 16 tons of glass—that no longer need to be shipped. In addition, the bottles used are lightweight and made of 60% recycled material.

Besides reducing carbon emissions, this shipping and distribution method lowers end-to-end production costs by up to 40%. Waitrose claims to be sharing these cost reductions with customers, charging GBP 3.99 per bottle. Currently on offer are a Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon and a Sauvignon/Chardonnay, both from Chile. They’ll be joined by two Californian wines later this season, and Waitrose is looking to further expand the method to other countries it imports wine from.

A green innovation that saves money for both retailers and consumers? Producers and retailers: it’s time to get virtuous ;-)

Website: www.waitrose.com
Contact: www.waitrose.com/footer/contactus.aspx

Spotted by: Maria Dahl Jorgensen

Our coverage of ad-supported FreePaperCups earlier this year sparked quite a reaction from eco-minded readers, many of whom very rightly pointed out the wastefulness inherent in using disposable cups. We're happy, then, to present the KeepCup, a sustainable, reusable alternative designed to reduce the massive waste created when coffee cups are meant to be thrown away.

The average paper cup consumes 2.5 times its final weight in raw wood, and is also coated in a polyethylene lining that makes it not just waterproof but also unrecyclable. Similar in intent to I Am Not a Paper Cup, the KeepCup is a lightweight, reusable and recyclable cup crafted from polypropylene—otherwise known as No. 5 food-grade plastic. Two sizes are currently available—a small, 8oz. size and a medium, 12oz. version—with both a large, 16oz. size and a "Babycino" 4oz. size on the way. Particularly notable is that Australian KeepCup replicates standard sizing on disposable coffee cups commonly used by baristas, so it can be substituted for paper cups without any modification; the small and medium cups fit directly under the nozzle at the coffee machine. Cups, lids, plugs and silicone bands can also be mixed and matched to create colourful combinations, and the cups are dishwasher-safe on the top rack, with an estimated lifespan of four years. Melbourne-based KeepCup is targeting cafes and employers with the product; corporate branding is available. Introductory pricing on the KeepCup begins at AUD 7.80 for the small version, increasing to AUD 9.80 in July.

KeepCup is currently seeking "crusaders" to manage and distribute its cups in overseas markets. Given that Australians alone use some 500 million disposable cups each year—throwing out 951 every minute—there's sure to be considerable opportunity in virtually every neck of the woods. One to get in on early! ;-)

Website: www.keepcup.com.au
Contact: info@keepcup.com.au

Spotted by: David Cairns

With all the benefits of carpooling, it's no wonder the ride-sharing services are coming fast and furious. Hard on the heels of our recent stories about Galpshare and NuRide comes Mega Car Pool, a travel matching service in New Delhi that rewards drivers for giving rides.

Those interested in carpooling through Mega Car Pool begin by registering with the service, which will then conduct an identity verification process for security that includes a home visit and presentation of residential proof, driving license and citizenship ID. Prospective members also fill out a questionnaire with details about their regular travel habits and preferences in a travelling companion, including gender and whether or not they smoke. (No personal details are ever revealed to ride companions, and the service even has a "women's club" for all-female drivers and rides.) Members are then given a smart card with ID code, and a GPS device is installed in their car.

Next, information about members' routine trips—such as daily commutes to work—are fed into Mega Car Pool's computer for matching with members looking for rides; ride-seekers without cars of their own can become members only if referred by one who owns a car. Matches can be made for both routine and ad hoc trips; either way, each time a car-owning member provides a lift, the kilometres travelled are recorded by the installed GPS. Those kilometres are then translated into credits, which are added to the driver's smart card account and can later be used for free rides with another driver, or be donated to another member for rides of their own. In addition to matching drivers with those seeking rides, Mega Car Pool also provides additional services including a panic button, traffic updates and emergency assistance when a car breaks down.

Mega Car Pool is currently operated by infrastructure construction company HICC Ltd., and a similar concept is currently being considered for implementation by the Delhi government as a complement to public transport.

Website: www.megacarpool.com
Contact: feedback@megacarpool.com

Spotted by: Vikrant Rai

Europcar is teaming up with Nissan to offer electric vehicles for hire. Low emission rental vehicles are nothing new for Europcar (or many other rental agencies, for that matter); models such as the Toyota Prius have been part of its 225,000 strong fleet for years. However, it seems to be the first time that a rental company and car manufacturer are jointly offering a design that’s not just low emission, but no emission.

After introducing electric versions of existing models, Nissan plans to develop entirely new models that will be made available through Europcar. The company hopes to offer a wide range of zero-emission vehicles at all the usual rental locations like airports, train stations and local kiosks by the end of 2010. Besides helping Europcar stand apart from other rental companies and providing Nissan with a guaranteed market for a large number of electric vehicles, the alliance will give consumers the opportunity to try out an unfamiliar product in a real-world setting. (Related: Europcar lists CO2 emissions on customer invoices.)

Website: www.europcar.com
Contact: www.europcar.com/EBE/module/render/Contact-Us

Spotted by: Raymond Kollau

Showing customers the environmental impact of driving, French car rental company Europcar now lists CO2 emissions for its rental cars. The information can be found both on the company’s website, and on customer invoices, allowing conscientious drivers to take emissions into account when choosing a rental car, as well as reminding them after the fact. Customers are also offered the chance to offset their emissions via a collaboration with Climate Care. Instead of planting trees, Climate Care assists with the development of renewable fuel sources and more efficient systems—arguably a more effective way of tackling carbon emissions than planting trees.

Europcar’s CO2 information is currently available to customers in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, with Australia to follow soon. An easy improvement would be to add a quick guide to help users put those emission numbers into context. As consumers become more aware of their impact on the environment, they’ll increasingly demand information that will help them make better choices. More on that from our sister-site trendwatching.com—check out their thoughts on eco intel.

Website: www.europcar.com/CO2-Emissions
Contact: www.europcar.com/EBE/module/render/Contact-Us

Spotted by: Raymond Kollau