Sustainability
sustainability is at the heart of what we do
We believe that the things we enjoy shouldn’t come at the expense of the environment.
Our fully recyclable wine pouches are designed to make it easy to enjoy premium wines while being kinder to the planet.
so, What's the problem with glass?
It’s a common misconception that wine in glass is the most sustainable option. While glass can be recycled, the reality is far from ideal.
Let’s break down the facts:
- Glass is EXTREMELY Energy-Intensive to Produce: Glass requires vast energy and resources to manufacture.
- Glass is Heavy & Bulky, making it Energy Intensive to Transport: Glass bottles are heavy and take up a lot of space due to their round shape. This means fewer bottles per load, which increases fuel consumption and emissions during transport.
- Low Recycling Rates in Australia: Sadly, MORE THAN *50% of glass ends up in landfills around Australia no matter what bin we place it in.
An *Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation report has estimated that of the 1.3 million tonnes of glass discarded in Australia each year, less than half – 46 per cent – is recovered.
When it is recycled, it has to be sorted and reheated. More energy. More carbon!
wine industry - sustainability hard facts
*68% of a bottle of wines carbon footprint comes from its packaging and transport to market.
*Source: Australian Wine Research Institute.
Over 80% of wine is consumed within one week of purchase!
It begs the question…
Why are we still using such an energy-intensive material for wine packaging?
If every glass bottle were washed and reused, glass would indeed be the best option.
Unfortunately, that’s not the reality. Most bottles are discarded after a single use (bound for landfill)!
Given how quickly most wines are enjoyed, using glass (originally intended for long-term cellaring) is far from the most sustainable choice!
Why Greenskin Wine Pouches Are a Greener Choice
Our eco-friendly wine pouches are designed to reduce environmental impact, making them a better alternative to traditional glass bottles.
- Less Energy To Produce: A Greenskin pouch takes 82% less energy to produce than an equivalent 750ml glass bottle.
- Fewer Emissions To Transport: Our pouches are lightweight and compact, drastically reducing carbon emissions during transportation.
To put this in perspective: When we transport one truckload of empty pouches to a winery to be filled, to transport the same volume of empty glass bottles, it would take 26 trucks!
This is before the containers get filled and sent to the market, where Greenskin is 60% of the weight and the space of standard 750ml glass bottles, further reducing harmful carbon emissions.
- Greenskin Wine pouches are 100% recyclable: Meaning they avoid landfill and contribute to a circular economy.
Leading the Wine Industry with Closed-Loop Recycling
We’re proud to offer the wine industry’s first closed-loop recycling system.
Each 6-pack of Greenskin Wine includes a postage-paid satchel so you can easily return your empty pouches to our recycling partner, Plasmar.
Every part of your pouch (and envelope) is 100% recycled!
what happens to your empty pouches?
When you return your pouches in the postage-paid envelope, they are received by our rocking recycling partner, Plasmar.
Plasmar is not just an intermediary; they are a full-fledged recycling operation that transforms plastic waste into long-life, environmentally friendly alternatives to timber.
This innovative material is used to create a range of durable products, including pallets, sleepers, bollards, and even vineyard posts that support grape vines, forming a beautiful full circle to see the wine pouches return to the vineyards.
industry recognition 2 years running!
Our efforts towards sustainability and innovation have been recognised by winning not one but two major awards at the 2022 AND 2023 PACKWINE Design Awards, taking out the Best Alternative / Sustainable Package Design Award and the People’s Choice Award.
You can read the full story here.
australian packaging covenant MEMBERS
Greenskin Wine is also a proud member of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO).
The APCO is a not-for-profit organisation that is leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia.
The APCO vision is a packaging value chain that collaborates to keep packaging materials out of landfills and retains the maximum value of the materials, energy and labour within the local economy.
Through our APCO membership, Greenskin Wine aims to maximise our sustainability credentials by committing to a system of scrutiny and measurement to ensure any claims we make can be verified and compared to industry best practices.
While it is not mandatory for us to join this organisation, we firmly believe that it is a significant way for us to “walk the talk”, which we trust will give you, our greatest asset, a greater connection to our commitment to sustainability in wine packaging.
After decades of working as winemakers and wine packaging specialists, the idea of putting wine in a soft pouch first came to life over a long lunch about 15 years ago.
Frustrated by the hassles of glass and knowing its hefty environmental impact, we knew there had to be a better way without compromising on wine quality. But back then, pouch materials weren’t recyclable, so we hit pause.
Fast forward to today, and with advancements in material technology and recycling methods, the Greenskin pouch is now 100% recyclable, sparking the launch of Greenskin Wine in April 2021.
Our creative daughter, Ellen, coined the name Greenskin — a clever twist on the wine term “Clean Skin” and our commitment to sustainability. We loved it from the start.
We’re excited to bring Aussies a smarter, greener way to enjoy premium wines and are thrilled to have you as part of this change!
THANK YOU!
We’re so pleased to be leading the change to more sustainable wine packaging, and we thank you for being part of the change!
Together with your and Plasmar’s help, we are taking significant steps towards a greener future and a cleaner environment.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions or require additional information.
