Wineries continue to increase their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. From harvesting grapes grown in more sustainably focused ways, to water conservation, and fostering healthier soils, there are many things that can be done in the vineyard to make a positive impact on the local ecosystem and wildlife habitat.
Beyond environmentally conscious agricultural practices, it is important that wineries look to vendors that operate with similar sustainability views. One impactful consideration is which organization you turn to for glass packaging. If you are looking to step up your efforts even further, there is a reason to choose O-I as that partner. Since 2017, the organization’s multi-pronged approach to sustainability has resulted in a nearly 20% reduction in greenhouse (GHG) emissions.
Taking a more granular look at O-I, there are other factors that make the organization a leader in the sustainable packaging space. Here are some points to consider when it comes to strengthening a sustainable vision for your brand.
Dive into O-I’s sustainability report.
Lighter bottles. Lighter footprint.
O-I’s lighter-weight glass bottles, which comprise one-third of their wine bottle portfolio, are supporting sustainable initiatives by offering a lower carbon footprint. “The lightweight portfolio is gaining considerable momentum, and we’re receiving a lot of positive feedback,” says Jon French, O-I Commercial Director, Wine. “Many of our customers have expressed that, if they haven’t already started moving into lightweight offerings, they are strongly considering the transition.”
One organization influencing the lightweight trend is the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWRT), which brings together retailers and wine industry leaders, from wineries to packaging producers, to create global standards for wine sustainability. O-I joined SWRT in March, becoming the first glassmaker among over 120 members. SWRT is championing bottles of 420 grams or less and has pledged to pursue joint trials with the glass industry to produce even lower-weight bottles of around 350 grams. O-I’s lightweight portfolio supports customers interested in getting on board with those initiatives.
“Some wine customers were initially hesitant to transition to lighter-weight bottles for fear that they would lose some of their brand equity,” says French. “One reason is that as an industry we have trained the consumer to think that premium wines should come in heavier bottles. We have addressed this concern in our design by accentuating the shoulders and adding a more substantial punt, so they still get all the premium equity from the bottle. As a result, we are starting to see momentum as wineries are pleasantly surprised to find these options are available in a lighter-weight package.”
Location, location, location.
Sustainability initiatives often target material ingredients and manufacturing practices, leaving transportation an overlooked part of the puzzle. Transportation can make a significant impact. According to O-I calculations, GHG emissions from transportation can be reduced by 69% when transporting from an O-I West Coast plant to Napa as opposed to transporting from China to Napa.* Purchasing glass from a local supplier reduces the miles that glass must be transported, lowering carbon emissions.
O-I has a major West Coast footprint, with plants in Kalama (Washington) Portland, (Oregon), and Tracy and Los Angeles (California). These plants are strategically located to service West Coast wine producers, helping them achieve their sustainability goals through limiting transport emissions.
Read more about sustainable wine packaging.
Move forward with O-I
Embrace sustainability without compromising your brand’s growth. Partner with O-I to see how you can improve the future of your brand, and of the planet. Reducing your carbon footprint is easy with O-I’s locally produced lightweight bottles.
Discover the partnership possibilities.
