Function, barriers, and the environmental benefits of reuse bottle system for wine

Abstract

With 0.3 to 0.7 kg CO2eq per 0.75 L wine, the glass bottle is the main contributor to the carbon footprint of a bottle of wine. Reuse of wine bottles is discussed as a promising strategy to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of wine. The objective of this study was to investigate the function, barriers, and the potential environmental benefits of reuse wine bottle system. The study focused the German market, which is generally quite advanced in reusing bottles, especially in the water and beer segments. In the first step of the study, 695 private wineries, 68 cooperative wineries, and 19 wine cellars were surveyed and categorized into clusters with multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). Additionally, breweries and mineral water producers, who participate in reuse bottle pools, were interviewed. Most wine producers (62 %) indicated a favorable attitude toward the reuse of bottles. The type of business (winery, cooperative, wine cellar) has a negligible impact. Structural circumstances of the businesses, as well as the perceived advantages and disadvantages of a reuse bottle system provide a more accurate description of the readiness towards reuse bottles. The second part of the study addresses technical trials determining the glass integrity and stability after multiple use of 0.75 L wine bottles. The bottle diameter, protruding areas, and the glass coating as well as bottle handling during filling, logistics, and cleaning were found to have an influence on the integrity and stability of the bottles. Some label adhesives with dispersion glue, labels with high print density and foil-coated areas on the label were also identified as obstacles in the alkaline-based cleaning processes of bottles. In the last part of the study a life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to calculate potential CO2 savings of a wine bottle reuse system in comparison to using new bottles. When considering re-logistics within a 500 km radius, sorting and cleaning processes of used bottles, the CO2 savings of a reuse system can account for 50-80 % already after five use cycles.