Why BLUE BIN Believes The Future Of The Wine Business Rests On Bottles

Lately, wineries and winemakers have turn into more and more acutely aware of the environmental influence wine manufacturing and distribution has on the atmosphere. Many corporations are actually altering farming practices to be extra local weather pleasant, and contemplating sustainability in packaging and distribution. Nevertheless, the burden of wine bottles, which accounts for 29% of wine’s carbon footprint, remains to be one of many largest points the trade faces.

I not too long ago spoke with Ron Rubin of Ron Rubin Vineyard, Sonoma County Vintner and founding father of BLUE BIN, to be taught extra concerning the launch of the model’s new 100% recyclable wine bottles, and the way others within the wine trade can be a part of this development.

Ron informed me how BLUE BIN is the primary premium wine packaged in a 750ml bottle produced from 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) plastic and that these bottles are smaller and lighter than standard bottles, shatterproof, and absolutely recyclable. As a veteran within the wine trade, Ron additionally shared his journey and cause behind founding BLUE BIN and the state of the wine trade.

Christopher Marquis: Inform us a bit concerning the inspiration behind the Blue Bin model? The place did the identify Blue Bin come from?

Ron Rubin: There have been quite a few inspirations behind the BLUE BIN model. As a Licensed B Company one of many influence space pillars is prioritizing and caring for the planet, which the Ron Rubin Vineyard is dedicated to doing.

After some analysis we discovered that simply the burden of wine glass bottles (from 420 grams to 850 grams) accounts for 29% of wine’s carbon footprint, so discovering an answer to cut back the carbon footprint was a motivating issue – BLUE BIN’s bottle weight is 52 grams.

Moreover, I learn a examine by Sonoma State College that confirmed 90% of all wine is consumed inside a one week or two week interval after bought, so we felt there should be a greater different to the standard glass wine packaging that may be higher for the atmosphere and ideal for majority of wine drinkers who eat a bottle inside two weeks.

The inspiration behind the identify got here to me final summer time once I was driving to our vineyard on Route 116 (Gravenstein Freeway) exterior of Sebastopol, and I seen all of the blue recycling bins out on the highway prepared for choose up that day. As we had been exploring different bottles to fight the waste from conventional wine bottles, we found that we may make a 100% rPET bottle, and figuring out that blue bins are the place all of the recycled materials comes from to provide rPET, BLUE BIN felt like the proper identify.

Marquis: What was the method prefer to make a 100% recyclable bottle produced from 100% recycled materials? What units the bottle aside?

Rubin: We labored in partnership with Amcor, the worldwide chief in accountable packaging options, to create the BLUE BIN bottle – the U.S’ first wine bottle made out of 100% recycled supplies. With out the management, assist, and dealing in partnership with Amcor, BLUE BIN wouldn’t have been launched. This was a most pleasing collaboration and studying expertise for all.

With BLUE BIN’s first-of-its-kind bottle, we hope to encourage extra wineries to now not buy glass bottles weighing extra that 420 grams and to think about using 100% recycled PET wine bottles for wines they produce which are consumed shortly after shopper buy.

Marquis: How can different wine manufacturers comply with in Blue Bin’s footsteps to create a extra sustainable + planet-friendly wine trade? Do you might have any suggestions for wineries that need to turn into B Corps?

Rubin: Extra wineries should be open to utilizing some sort of different packaging (rPET, aluminum, light-weight glass) for wine of their companies. Being cognizant of packaging and which is best for the planet will create a extra sustainable and planet-friendly wine trade.

My suggestion for wineries desirous to turn into B Corp Licensed is to JOIN the motion to turn into a part of a worldwide group of companies that meet the excessive requirements of social and environmental influence whereas being dedicated to steady enchancment. Small steps will help our planet and starting these steps as quickly as potential will assist create a greater future for folks and the planet.

However the course of was time consuming, troublesome, and thrilling all on the identical time. From begin to end it took us 651 days. I feel extra wineries haven’t launched into this journey due to the dedication to transparency and inflexible scoring on 5 influence areas within the B Affect Evaluation (Staff, Atmosphere, Governance, Clients, Neighborhood), that are all pillars Ron Rubin Vineyard proudly adhere to.

Marquis: The wine trade has been deeply impacted by local weather change, whether or not fires or droughts. What’s the way forward for wine appear to be, and why is it essential for shoppers to take motion to drink extra sustainably?

Rubin: The way forward for wine can look constructive so long as winemakers and shoppers work collectively to create constructive, planet-friendly choices all through the wine making and buying course of. As we all know, the wine trade can have enormous impacts on the atmosphere, from packaging to farming practices. Together with BLUE BIN, there have been many wineries and advocates which have spoken out about methods to make the trade higher for the planet, together with packaging, which we all know accounts for 29% of the trade’s carbon footprint.

For shoppers, a very good first step is for them to do their analysis and search out and buy planet-friendly different packaging to benefit from the wine they love with much less environmental influence to planet Earth.