Thatchers cider: 20m plastic rings saved in a year

By ditching plastic rings for its can packs for Thatchers Gold, Haze, Rosé and Cloudy Lemon ciders, family cider-maker Thatchers saved 20 million plastic rings from being used in 2020.

Now, the Somerset cider-maker is able to strengthen its commitment to the environment further with PEFC certification for the cardboard packaging that replaces the plastic rings.

This certification means that Thatchers is able to guarantee all its consumer cardboard product packaging has been sourced sustainably.

The introduction of the ground-breaking duo-wing for its 4-can packs in 2016 was akey piece of the sustainability effort for Thatchers, which estimates over 100 tonnes of plastic has been saved during this time thanks to the initiative.

The PEFC mark also appears on Thatchers ten can packs. FSC certified board is used for mail order boxes and retail bottle display trays.

“Working with supplier Westrock to ensure our packaging is made with PEFC certified board is an important part of our sustainability commitment," said Supply Chain Director Gary Delafield. "We are always looking to actively do the right thing across our cider making and packaging, and the PEFC certification assures our retail customers and consumers that our cardboard is sourced sustainably throughout."

Thatchers has worked with its packaging supplier Westrock to secure the certification. PEFC is a global chain of custody certificate that tracks wood from sustainable sources, through the supply chain to final product. Over 320 million hectares of forest globally are PEFC certified.

Thatchers' lighter weight cans save 70 tons of aluminium each year and its glass bottles contain up to 77 per cent recycled glass. Furthermore, its new warehouse in Somerset is home to solar panels that saved some 75,000 kg of CO2 in 2020 – the equivalent of planting 3,500 trees. The energy is harnessed to power heating at the cider mill.