POLAND SPRING – Newly packaged Poland Spring water is rolling out to grocery stores all over Maine this week, the result of a $12.5 million upgrade to reduce its carbon footprint.

The Eco-Shape bottle, produced at the water bottler’s plants in Poland Spring and Hollis, uses 30 percent less plastic than conventional plastic beverage bottles.

“Poland Spring is always trying to do more in the arena of environmental responsibility,” said Noah Keteyian, a publicist for the company. “This is one more thing on that continuum.”

The bottle weighs 12.5 grams, while soda and other beverage bottles tend to weigh between 24 and 28 grams. The new Eco-Shape containers also have a label that is about 30 percent smaller than its forerunner.

Hollis was the pilot site for the new bottle, where $8.5 million in modifications to its production equipment were made to accommodate the new design. They’ll begin making Eco-Shape bottles in the Poland Spring plant this week, after $4 million in modifications were made there.

“There are new molds, changes to the conveyor system … it’s a pretty significant investment,” said Ron Dyer, environmental manager for Poland Spring.

Engineering for the bottle came from France, where Poland Spring’s parent company, Nestle Waters, has been working on its design. The challenge was to come up with a bottle that has the stability and transparency of a conventional plastic beverage bottle, but with less weight, Dyer said.

The new design reduces the amount of plastic used in each bottle, but also saves environmental costs associated with transportation and production. They are completely recyclable.

“We’re working on the whole footprint,” Dyer said. The specific reduction in environmental waste is being assessed, he said.

The company is building a new plant in Kingfield that is expected to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, as has an addition at the Hollis plant. The company also now uses biodiesel in its water tanker fleet.

The first shipment of the half-liter Eco-Shape bottles left the Hollis bottling facility Thursday and should start appearing on grocery shelves immediately, Keteyian said. The suggested retail price for a six-pack is $2.49 – the same as its previously packaged half-liter.

The shape also is ergonomically designed, making it easy to grab and go, Keteyian said.

Nestle Waters is also using the Eco-Shape bottle in its other water brands, such as Arrowhead and Deerpark.