Latest news with #MontereyWineCompany
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Are Target's wine bottles the start of a paper revolution?
In a move that could signal a significant shift in wine packaging, Target has become the first major US retailer to introduce a range of wines in paper bottles. The retailer's new 'Collective Good' line is now available in nearly 1,200 stores across the United States, coinciding with Earth Month celebrations. These wines are packaged in the Frugal Bottle, a sustainable alternative to traditional glass, developed by British company Frugalpac. The Frugal Bottle is constructed from 94% recycled paperboard and includes a food-grade pouch to contain the wine. This design results in a bottle that is five times lighter than its glass counterpart and boasts a carbon footprint 84% lower than that of a standard glass bottle. Specifically, while a typical glass wine bottle has a carbon footprint of approximately 440g CO₂e, the Frugal Bottle's footprint is around 91.9g CO₂e. The introduction of these paper bottles is expected to save nearly 100 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the emissions from burning over 99,000 pounds of coal or consuming more than 10,000 gallons of gasoline. The Collective Good wine range is a result of collaboration between California-based Latitude Wines (LWX), which sourced and imported the wines, and Monterey Wine Company, responsible for filling the paper bottles. Monterey Wine Company has invested in a Frugal Bottle Assembly Machine, enabling the production of over 2.5 million paper bottles annually. The wines in this range include a Cabernet Sauvignon from California, a Red Blend from Spain, a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, and a Pinot Grigio from Italy. Each wine is sourced from producers committed to sustainable practices, such as using renewable energy and implementing water-saving techniques. While Whole Foods Market previously stocked a wine in Frugal Bottles on a limited basis, Target's nationwide rollout represents the first large-scale adoption of this packaging in the U.S. retail sector. Frugalpac reports that approximately 90% of its business is through exports, with the U.S. showing significant interest in sustainable packaging solutions. Plans are underway to expand the availability of Frugal Bottles to other retailers, including over 500 7-Eleven stores, primarily on the West Coast. As environmental concerns continue to influence consumer choices, the success of Target's initiative may encourage other retailers and producers to explore sustainable packaging alternatives, potentially marking the beginning of a broader shift in the wine industry's approach to packaging. "Are Target's wine bottles the start of a paper revolution?" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
CBS News
18-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
California winemakers embrace sustainable bottles made from recycled cardboard
With great soil, foggy mornings, and cool afternoon winds, Monterey County is the perfect place to grow quality wine grapes. From Arroyo Seco to Carmel Valley, hundreds of local vineyards use environmentally friendly methods to produce exceptional vintages. CBS News Bay Area spoke to winemaker Nicole Walsh who honed her craft at Bonny Doon Vineyard , which is now owned by WarRoom Cellars . "Bonny Doon has always been a pioneer, really pushing the boundaries of sustainability and farming practices, whether that's organic, biodynamic," explained Walsh. We also spoke to Heidi Scheid, who is the executive vice president of Scheid Family Wines . "Sustainability has been one of our core values since our family founded this business in 1972. We've always just believed very heavily that you need to treat your vineyards well, your land well," remarked Scheid. Now, winemakers have a greener way to package their wine. It's a device created by Frugalpac, a sustainable packaging company located in the United Kingdom . It was recently awarded the King's Award for Enterprise for Innovation from King Charles III. "We describe them as a wonderful, sustainable option in the wine packaging world," said Shannon Valladarez, general manager of Monterey Wine Company . The family-owned wine broker and distributor is the only place in the United States that has a Frugalpac machine. "I thought this was a brilliant concept and was really excited about it," Valladarez said. Valladerez and her team spent about a year and a half looking into the technology. She talked to clients, met with retailers, and got positive feedback. "They were basically saying this is what we want on our shelves. And after all that hard work, and due diligence, we knew this was the right thing for the Monterey Wine Company," she said. The paper bottles are made from 94% recycled cardboard and has a carbon footprint 84% lower than a glass bottle. Reports show how making glass bottles in conventional furnaces, and then transporting them by freight or plane requires a lot of fossil fuel, which in turn emits a lot of carbon into the environment. "When you think about the weight of traditional wine bottles and that glass and what goes into making the glass, blowing the glass, transporting the glass, there's a huge carbon footprint there," remarked Walsh. "We sell to 30 countries internationally. And so having a lighter weight bottle and one that has less environmental impact is great from start to finish," added Scheid. "That's pretty, pretty substantial," said Walsh. Bottling starts with flat cardboard, covered in art. A plastic insert will hold the wine. The device then pinches, folds, and molds the paper into a bottle. It can make up to 500 bottles an hour. At Monterey Wine Company, the bottles are made, and then brought to an adjacent room, where they are filled and boxed. "The bottle is so light oftentimes when consumers pick it up, they feel as if it's an empty bottle," noted Valladarez. The winemakers are raising a glass. "It really speaks to what's going on with our planet right now. We're all very much aware of climate change and the impact it is having on everyone's lives," said Walsh. "I hope that it something that a customer walking thru the shopping aisle is going to be intrigued enough to pick it up, notice it is substantially light and say 'this is pretty cool, I care about the environment and I'm going to give it a try, " added Scheid. The first U.S. winery to launch a Frugal Bottle was Bonny Doon, when it released it's "Carbon-nay" wine at Whole Foods Markets. Customers can now find the "Collective Good" collection in Target stores across the nation. Target is the first major retailer to commission a line of sustainable wines in the low carbon bottles. There are four wines, including a Cabernet Sauvignon from Scheid Family Farms. The hope: that these low carbon bottles are uncorking a better future for tomorrow.
