Alpla launches a recyclable wine bottle made from PET. The bottle is lighter than conventional glass bottles and reduces CO2-footprint and costs. The packaging solution can be made from rPET and is compatible with existing filling lines.
The internationally active packaging specialist Alpla has added a PET wine bottle to its range. The 0.75 litre bottle weighs just 50 grams - around eight times less than the glass alternative. The first white wine bottles from the Wegenstein winery have recently entered circulation on the Austrian wine market, making them part of the Europe-wide bottle-to-bottle cycle. The sustainable solution reduces the CO2-consumption by 38 per cent compared to the glass alternative - and without any rPET content. The PET bottle is now also available as a 1-litre version. Alpla is planning to produce several million units per year and solutions made from 100 per cent rPET as early as 2025.
„PET is lightweight, unbreakable, recyclable and can be moulded with low energy consumption. This makes plastic the ideal packaging solution. Wine producers can improve their carbon footprint and reduce their costs,“ emphasises Daniel Lehner, Global Sales Director Food & Beverage at Alpla. The plastic packaging fulfils all quality requirements, is available as a transparent or green bottle and is suitable for all types of wine.
The lower material consumption and energy-saving processing reduce CO2-consumption. The Use of rPET increases the reduction further. Even with 30 per cent rPET, 43 per cent is saved, while the ecological footprint of the 100 per cent rPET solution is even halved at minus 50 per cent. Alpla provides the high-quality recycled material from its own Alplarecycling recycling plants. The low weight of the packaging also has positive effects during transport. There is also the cost advantage. Depending on the requirements, PET wine bottles from Alpla are up to 30 per cent cheaper than glass bottles.
The sustainable packaging solution Works with conventional metal twist locks, is compatible with the wine producers„ bottling lines and thus ensures flexibility. At Wegenstein, the PET bottles are filled on the same lines as the glass bottles. “The bottle is perfectly matched to the filling and transport processes. The close cooperation with the Wegenstein team has significantly accelerated the market launch," reports Sebastian Rosenberger, Project Manager at Alpla.
„The PET bottle delivers what it promises. It is visually appealing, safeguards our quality and is practical. We are making an innovative offer to consumers who care about our environment and our climate.“
Herbert Toifl, Managing Director of the Wegenstein Winery
Source: Alpla
