Bottles, boxes, cans, and more – which is the most sustainable wine packaging?

When shopping for sustainable products – whether they’re the clothes we wear or the food and drinks we purchase – we often focus on the item inside the packaging. Is the jacket vegan leather? Are those avocados locally grown? Is that wine from an organic winery? One thing we often don’t focus on, however, is the effect that packaging has on sustainability. 

This is especially true when speaking about organic wine. Organic wine is sustainable in many ways. Its farming practices increase biodiversity and create better conditions for workers. Wine can also impact sustainability through its packaging, which is rarely recognized. It’s worth it to take a look at standard wine bottling and packaging practices and how they can be altered to better the planet.

In this article, we will discuss: 

• Wine packaging options
• Sustainability of glass-bottled wine
• Sustainability of canned wine
• Sustainability of boxed wine
• Sustainability of refillable growlers
• Packaging options for shipping 
• The ultimate takeaway

Let’s delve into organic wine packaging sustainability. 

Wine packaging options

Gone are the days when the only packaging options for wine were bottles. Today’s options are plentiful. 

Glass is still the most common packaging option for wine. It can, however, differentiate more than the consumer might realize. Glass can be molded into many shapes that affect the body, beck, and bottom of the bottle (for example, a punted or flat bottom). It also comes in different colors, typically variations on green. Glass bottles are made in sizes ranging from 187 milliliters to 30 liters. The bottles also vary by closure, which includes cork, screw top, crown cap, or swing top. 

Boxed wine is another packaging option. This is a cardboard box with a bag insert. Boxed wine has risen in quality and as such, sales have jumped substantially. In 2020, boxed wine sales rose by 36 percent.

Another more recently popular option is canned wine, which is also trending, with sales reaching $183.6 million in 2020. Typically, younger generations enjoy canned wine.

One lesser-known wine packaging option is refillable growlers. Refillable wine growlers, which are more commonly attributed to beer sales, are 1.5-liter glass bottles that are used to refill wine, typically in partnership with a cellar that offers this service.  

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles are an emerging type of alternative packaging for wine. These bottles are made of virtually unbreakable rigid plastic and are 100% recyclable. Like growlers, they are refillable at local wineries and even self-service wine dispensers, like those in French grocery stores. 

Sustainability of glass-bottled wine

Glass is certainly more sustainable than plastic, but the production of the material itself releases carbon dioxide. Glass is also recyclable, but the amount of glass recycled varies by country. In the United States, the glass recycling rate is 33 percent. In Europe, it is 90 percent. 

Sustainability of canned wine

Cans are also more sustainable than plastic. They are also very easy to recycle and are widely recycled. However, like glass, the production of aluminum releases carbon dioxide. 

Sustainability of boxed wine

Boxed wine is packaged in cardboard, which is a huge win for sustainability. Boxed wine, however, also uses a plastic bag inside which holds the wine, and a plastic spout. These products vary in terms of sustainability, and the plastic used may not always be BPA-free. There is also a learning curve among consumers when recycling this packaging, as it is made up of several different materials.

Sustainability of refillable growlers

Refillable growlers are certainly one of the most sustainable wine packaging options due to their refillable nature. However, they are not always readily available. Additionally, when using a refillable growler, the consumer is limited with the vineyard choice. If the wine cellar offering this service does not produce or sell organic, sustainable wine, this may negate the positivity of the refillable growler.

Sustainability of PET bottles

Like growlers, PET bottles are extremely sustainable because you can refill them frequently. These flat-sided bottles are 100% recyclable (when disposed of in a PET recycling program, which most Americans have access to) and release far less CO2 emissions upon creation than glass bottles. They are also lightweight, have no sharp edges, and are almost unbreakable.

Packaging options for shipping 

Shipping packaging is also a key part of wine packaging sustainability, with options for this including corrugated wine boxes with partitions, boxes with molded pulp inside, boxes with air pillow inserts, and e-commerce boxes with cardboard inserts. The key here is choosing cardboard over plastic, especially when dealing with insertions that keep wine safe during the shipping process. 

The takeaway

One safe bet when choosing wine packaging for sustainability is to avoid plastic. It is also valuable for the consumer to pay attention to recycling regulations in their area, purchase wine in packaging that can be recycled, and always recycle the packaging correctly. Another way to promote sustainability when enjoying wine is to consider upcycling wine bottles instead of discarding them.

Most importantly, it is admirable to choose wine from a winery that engages in sustainable practices. One award-winning, affordable option is Domaine Bousquet.

Domaine Bousquet is an organic, vegan, sustainable winery located in Mendoza, Argentina that prioritizes farming and winemaking techniques for environmental sustainability. As a result, the wine is ethically-made, delicious, and a perfect complement to any occasion.