Non-Glass Alternatives for Wine Packaging

Non-Glass Alternatives for Wine Packaging

Wine Packaging is undergoing a quiet revolution. With changing lifestyles, improved packaging technology and growing environmental concerns wine producers are increasingly experimenting with non-glass alternatives.

Glass along with a natural cork is one of the most common ways to package wine. However, this type of packaging has a significant impact on the oxidation process.

Cork

Cork is a natural material that has many benefits, including its elasticity and water resistance. It also helps to stabilize wine and keeps it fresh. It is a sustainable and renewable resource, and it supports biodiversity and curbs desertification. It is a great choice for wine packaging, because it provides the same experience as a glass bottle and preserves the integrity of the beverage.

The cork wine packaging market is expected to grow over the next 10 years, thanks to increasing demand for eco-friendly products. This is a result of environmental concerns and the need to reduce carbon emissions. The market is segmented by packaging materials, product type, and geography. Glass bottles and corks currently hold the largest share of the market, followed by plastic and Tetra Pak.

A new innovation in the wine packaging industry is HELIX, a reusable glass and cork closure that can be re-sealed after each use. This is a great alternative to the traditional glass flagon and preserves the classic ritual of opening a bottle of wine with the associated “pop” sound.

The cork wine packaging market is Shoes Packaging growing rapidly, but there are still some challenges that need to be addressed. One challenge is the availability of raw materials. As the world’s population grows, the supply of raw materials has become more limited. This has implications for the wine and food industries, and it is essential to find a solution.

Glass

Glass bottles have long been a symbol of wine’s heritage and quality. Despite the many alternatives that have been introduced, including plastic and aluminium cans (and even Tetra Pak), glass continues to be the preferred packaging for most wines. Bottles offer a fail-safe barrier against oxygen, heat and humidity that allows the wine to develop its intended flavour profiles.

As glass is a natural material, it is considered to be an environmentally sound packaging choice. Although the initial production of glass imposes an impact on the environment due to mining for raw silica, this can be mitigated by using recycled materials and by reducing other types of waste associated with wine packaging.

In recent years, glass producers have been introducing a wide range of new shapes and textures to help wineries tell their unique story and stand out from the competition. This includes innovations such as a “greener” glass that uses up to 87% recycled content and lighter bottles that reduce both shipping and protection costs, allowing more wine to be sold at retail price.

While it’s true that a growing number of wineries are beginning to use alternative packaging for their ‘drink now’ wines, largely because of the rising cost of energy and environmental concerns, glass bottles remain the overall wine packaging preference. Other formats, such as BIB, pouches and PET bottles, do not protect wine well enough against oxidation and are only suitable for short-term storage.

Plastic

For wine, there are a growing number of food-safe plastic bottles that are specially designed to preserve quality. Like glass, the best wine bottles are a dark, cool place to store, as exposure to light and heat will diminish quality and speed up oxidation. Choose PET bottles that are specifically designed for wine and contain oxygen-scavenging or barrier technologies, such as Plasmax or silicon oxide linings. These are available in 750ml and 1.5 liter bottles.

While the introduction of alternative packaging was originally objected to by many traditionalists, it is now embraced by a wide range of wineries and consumers. In addition to the fact that they are Wine Packaging cheaper and lighter than glass, plastic wine bottles also have a much lower environmental impact. As a result, they require less energy to produce and transport.

In a Life Cycle Assessment, which takes into account the full lifecycle of the product, plastic bottles generate significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions and require less energy to produce than their glass counterparts. In terms of transportation, they have one-ninth the carbon footprint of glass bottles.

This means that they can be shipped more cheaply and widely distributed. They are particularly suitable for wines that are intended for immediate consumption, such as chilled or at room temperature. As a further advantage, they are 100% recyclable and are more easily stowed away for picnics, barbecues, or camping trips.

Paper

A paper wine bottle is a sustainable alternative to glass bottles. Its production process uses less energy than a glass bottle, and its lifespan is also longer. It also requires less water and fewer harmful chemicals for processing. This is because the pulp used for a Frugalpac bottle comes from recycled paper and does not require refining. Furthermore, it can be used multiple times before it degrades.

Many consumers still believe that wine must be in a glass bottle. However, this view is changing as more wine producers adopt new packaging formats. There are now bags, pouches, cans, and slim plastic bottles. These alternatives are more popular among younger consumers and are a great option for wine festivals. However, glass is still the most common bottle shape.

The UK-based wine brand When in Rome is launching the world’s first paper wine bottle, in collaboration with British packaging company Frugalpac. This innovative package creates a lower carbon footprint than BIB or canned wines and is also five times lighter than its glass bottle counterpart.

While a paper-based wine bottle has several advantages, it does not offer the same level of durability and oxygen protection as a glass bottle. This is why some wine producers are choosing not to use it for high-end wines. Nevertheless, the Monterey Wine Company is planning to buy an assembly machine from Frugalpac for its own production. The company will use local recycled materials and food-grade liners for its wine bottles.