The Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) has announced that Coles Liquor and Wirra Wirra have signed up to its Bottle Weight Accord, which aims to reduce the weight of 750ml wine bottles to below 420g by the end of 2026.
Glass bottles significantly contribute to wine’s carbon footprint and SWR research indicates that roughly half of the carbon impact of wine can be attributed to the bottle. Reducing bottle weight, will help the wine industry to substantially lower this impact.
Shae Courtney, National Quality & Sustainability Manager, Coles Liquor, said: “Joining the Bottle Weight Accord reflects Coles Liquor’s broader commitment to packaging sustainability through innovation and collaboration with industry partners. It also recognises the progress we have made on the packaging of our portfolio of fabulous wines – and last financial year we reached a milestone of having 98.7 per cent of Coles Liquor Own Brand primary packaging being recyclable, reusable or compostable.
“By committing to lighter bottle designs, we aim to reduce packaging material and lower emissions from transport. We also want to support industry more broadly by encouraging continued investment in the design, use, and recovery of packaging across the liquor industry.”
Wirra Wirra was established in 1894 and produces a wide range of wines from McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills. Luke Tyler, Sales & Marketing Director for Wirra Wirra said: “We’re proud to join the Bottle Weight Accord as part of our ongoing commitment to reducing environmental impact. While eager to learn from others, we also look forward to sharing our own insights.
“We’ve recently introduced a new lightweight proprietary bottle (410g) without compromising its iconic design that will start appearing in fellow BWA participants’ stores in time for Christmas this year.
“This follows another significant lightweighting project collaboration on a Liquorland exclusive Wirra Wirra McLaren Vale Vineyards Shiraz. Endorsement and encouragement from major retail partners such as Coles is vital to give wineries the confidence to take these important steps.
“These initiatives, along with future efforts through the Bottle Weight Accord, will support our goal of lowering our carbon emissions.”
Delaney Sheridan, Operations Manager at the SWR added: “As we reach the Accord’s second anniversary, it’s really encouraging to see more members coming on board. Partnerships between retailers and producers, as with Coles Liquor and Wirra Wirra, show what’s possible when the industry moves collectively around a simple, evidence-based target.
“Two years in, the Accord’s impact is clear – average bottle weights are coming down, and with them, the industry’s carbon footprint.”
The SWR said it has plans to unveiling a similar bottle weight accord aimed at producers and retailers of Sparkling Wines, by the end of this year.