O-I launches new lightweight wine bottle offering environmental benefits

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O-I launches new lightweight wine bottle

The country’s only glass container maker, O-I, is launching a new 750ml lightweight burgundy wine bottle which is almost 10 percent lighter than its predecessor but retains its premium look and feel.

Manufactured at O-I’s Auckland plant, the bottle’s weight has been reduced from 450g to 407g and has been adopted by local wine brands Saint Clair Family Estate, and New Zealand Vineyard Estates – producers of Mud House and Waipara Hills wines.

Improvements to the bottle’s design deliver environmental benefits including: a nine percent reduction in CO2 per container and a nine percent reduction in water per container.

O-I New Zealand’s director of sales and marketing, Andrew Sharp, says the new burgundy wine bottle had been designed to offer a standout lightweight alternative for a range of world-class New Zealand wines such as sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, chardonnay and aromatic wines.

“Our lighter 407g burgundy bottle will appeal to local wine customers in search of a packaging option that supports their own environmental programmes and helps to secure export opportunities,” says Mr Sharp.

Saint Clair Family Estate chose to package its Vicar’s Choice 2012 sauvignon blanc in the 407g bottle to support the company’s export business.

“O-I’s new burgundy bottle provided us with a lighter alternative particularly suited to export markets such as Canada’s which only accepts wine in bottles weighing 420 grams or less,” says Liz Chapman, production manager, Saint Clair Family Estate.

New Zealand Vineyard Estates’ use of the lightweight bottle for its Mud House and Waipara Hills ranges complemented the company’s broader efforts towards improved sustainability across its business.

“We’re always open to exploring new innovations in the wine industry and our use of this bottle has helped us to improve our sustainable position in a global marketplace,” says MJ Loza, chief executive, New Zealand Vineyard Estates.

“It has also minimised our environmental impact, by reducing glass use and improving transport efficiencies.

“O-I’s lightweight bottle also reduces the weight of cases providing health and safety benefits to our domestic and export partners, something I’m sure they’ll value highly.”

The newly packaged New Zealand Vineyard Estates wines will be available for purchase at all leading liquor stores.

The Saint Clair Family Estate wines will be exported to Canada.

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