Wine Packaging Goes Green

Glass packaging has always added to the overall impression of quality for high-end wines. However, rising oil prices and other environmental factors have compelled wine producers to look into more eco-friendly options. Click through to see what these changes mean for wine packaging.The Liquor Control Board of Ontario mandated that wines retailing for less than $15 must meet a new weight restriction of 420g. This is 20% lighter than a standard bottle of wine. Most manufacturers have responded by releasing their wines in lighter bottles and so far this has had no negative impact on sales.

Other companies are exploring alternative packaging options in an effort to appeal to the younger, more environmentally conscious consumer. PET recycled plastic bottles are one option that is lighter and more eco-friendly than traditional glass.

However, the PET bottles appear smaller than their glass counterparts even though they hold the same volume of wine. In addition to being lighter than glass, PET bottles also have the advantage of being allowed at sporting events, concerts and other public outdoor areas where glass is outlawed.

Taking the eco trend even further is wine in pouches. These are even better for outdoor events than PET bottles, as they are lighter and easier to fit in a backpack or picnic basket. For one winery–the Clif Family Winery–sales of wine pouches have outpaced sales of bottled wines.