{"id":17022,"date":"2022-09-29T04:05:40","date_gmt":"2022-09-29T11:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cellarswineclub.com\/?p=17022"},"modified":"2025-03-07T11:07:28","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T19:07:28","slug":"wine-packaging-and-sustainability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cellarswineclub.com\/wine-packaging-and-sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"Wine Packaging and Sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Wine Packaging and Sustainability<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\nSustainability is a broad topic in agriculture today, but to be truly sustainable, the practice and its principles must extend to all aspects of production. From grape to glass and through every step in the supply chain, wine producers and distributors are keenly focused on ways to reduce waste and carbon emissions to mitigate the challenges of climate change<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

\nLike most people, you are probably doing your part to save the planet. But the wine industry\u2014and wine lovers in general\u2014tend to cling to the romance of tradition when it comes to packaging<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

\nGlass bottles and natural corks are still seen as more desirable than cans, boxes, and screwcaps. Still, these packaging choices are becoming less sustainable by the minute. Faced with glass shortages, supply chain vulnerability, and mounting evidence that \u201cthe way we\u2019ve always done it\u201d is contributing greatly to the wine world\u2019s carbon footprint, something\u2019s got to give.\n<\/p>\n

\nIf you\u2019re one of the many wine lovers out there who still cling to the romance of the tried-and-true, we\u2019d like you to hear us out, consider the evidence, and keep an open mind.\n<\/p>\n \n

Wine\u2019s Carbon Footprint<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

\nThe California Wine Institute released a paper in 2020<\/a> that found the two most significant contributors to carbon emissions from grape to glass are glass bottles (29%) and transportation (13%). Other notable elements included bio-geochemical field emissions in the vineyard (from nitrogen fertilizer applications) and raw materials production, specifically associated with the manufacturing and shipment of materials and chemicals related to fertilization and pesticides.\n<\/p>\n

\nWhen it comes to wine packaging, it would seem that the impact of glass bottles is substantial. Wineries are currently experiencing a widespread availability issue with glass bottles due to a global sand shortage<\/a> (glass is made of sand). And while this might seem ludicrous to some, glass manufacturing requires a specific type of angular sand found only on riverbanks and floodplains.\n<\/p>\n

\nCouple that with the recent destruction of one of Europe\u2019s biggest glass factories, destroyed by the Russians in their war on Ukraine<\/a>, and the big picture comes into focus. There\u2019s plenty of wine, but no bottles to put them in.\n<\/p>\n \n

Alternative Wine Packaging Examples<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

\nHere are examples of alternative packaging you might already be seeing in restaurants and on store shelves:\n<\/p>\n