Carbon impact of bottling wine

WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) has announced the results of the first UK study into the carbon impact of bottling Australian wine in the UK in 75cl glass and PET bottles. The report considers how significant reductions in CO2 emissions can be made through lightweighting and increasing the recycled content of bottles.

The study found that lightweighting glass bottles has benefits in terms of CO2 savings from transport of loads. Higher CO2 emissions from the manufacture of PET offset many of the savings gained from its low weight. Whereas a typical glass bottle creates 523 grams of CO2, PET bottles create only 446 and lightweight glass bottles result in only slightly more at 453 grams of carbon per bottle. Lightweight bottles with 92 per cent recycled content result in even less CO2 - only 356 grams each.

Furthermore, the study confirmed the natural assumption that using recycled PET results in CO2 savings: a PET bottle with 50 per cent recycled content results in 387 grams of CO2 and a bottle with 100 per cent recycled content results in only 327 grams of carbon. The emissions from these bottles are reduced primarily because extraction, transportation and synthesis of crude oil are avoided.

Richard Swannell, WRAP Director of Retail and Organics Programmes, commented: "The research highlights that there are clear environmental wins to be gained by considering carefully the impact of material choices. Ultimately, the final decisions by producers will also depend upon numerous variables including what the supply chain requires, product storage and shelf life requirements, recyclability and consumer preferences."