Starward packaging update – delivering sustainability and supply chain security
Tracks
Plenary 2
| Wednesday, March 5, 2025 |
| 9:20 AM - 9:40 AM |
Speaker
Mr Sam Slaney
Production Director
Starward
Starward packaging update - delivering sustainability and supply chain security
Abstract
In 2024 Starward launched its packaging refresh project. The objective of this project was to:
- Onshore production of glass to reduce transport emissions and increase supply chain security. We partnered with Visy Glass to achieve the required design and specification with the glass being manufactured in Penrith. Previously glass was sourced from Asia.
- Incorporate recycled content into our glass which was previously 0% recycled content.
- Improve consumer appeal and shelf presence of the brand while staying true to brand heritage, making effective use of glass moulding and labels to achieve this
- Reduce the number of glass bottle skus from 8 to 3 to reduce complexity, by removing multiple variants at each size we were able to reduce the number of bottles held in inventory.
- Lightweight all bottles by removing legacy base on some bottles and demonstrating that weight doesn’t equal quality.
This presentation will review the various aspects of the packaging refresh project across all materials, along with packaging equipment specification and commissioning, and show the sustainability wins of moving to onshore glass production.
- Onshore production of glass to reduce transport emissions and increase supply chain security. We partnered with Visy Glass to achieve the required design and specification with the glass being manufactured in Penrith. Previously glass was sourced from Asia.
- Incorporate recycled content into our glass which was previously 0% recycled content.
- Improve consumer appeal and shelf presence of the brand while staying true to brand heritage, making effective use of glass moulding and labels to achieve this
- Reduce the number of glass bottle skus from 8 to 3 to reduce complexity, by removing multiple variants at each size we were able to reduce the number of bottles held in inventory.
- Lightweight all bottles by removing legacy base on some bottles and demonstrating that weight doesn’t equal quality.
This presentation will review the various aspects of the packaging refresh project across all materials, along with packaging equipment specification and commissioning, and show the sustainability wins of moving to onshore glass production.
Biography
Exploration geologist turned craft brewer turned Head Distiller. Sam was employee number one at Starward Whisky, building the distillery from the ground up. By crafting an easy-drinking, approachable dram, Sam hopes to challenge convention and shift the traditional whisky drinker stereotype. When asked ‘why whisky?’ Sam simply replies, 'it’s just a bloody great drink'.
