- Reusable, returnable glass wine bottles support the wine industry’s drive towards improved sustainability
- Revino will partner with wineries, local and statewide legislators, and NGOs to lower the barriers to the widespread adoption of glass bottle reuse
PERRYSBURG, Ohio and NEWBERG, Oregon – O-I Packaging Solutions along with Revino, has announced the introduction of returnable, reusable glass wine bottles to advance the sustainability of wine packaging. The rollout will begin in Oregon and then soon extend to the West Coast. O-IPS, a global manufacturer of sustainable glass packaging, will locally produce more than 2.4 million reusable glass wine bottles as part of Revino’s return system. Revino was founded to revive the reusable glass bottle ecosystem for beverage producers and consumers.
“Glass packaging for wine is made from pure and natural resources that are inert, infinitely recyclable and reliably preserve the integrity of the wine it packages,” said Randy Burns, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer for O-I Glass. “By extending the use phase of the glass packaging through return and refill winery partnerships, Revino is maximizing the sustainability of packaging for environmentally conscious wine producers.”
Returnable wine bottles can be reused 25 to 50 times
A 2020 study by Zero Waste Europe identified reusable packaging as the most environmentally friendly option. Revino, with its end-to-end returnable glass bottle reuse system, built for the wine industry, seeks to create a more conscious mindset that encourages wineries and consumers to invest in more durable and long-lasting packaging for wine that will endure multiple use cycles.
On average, a reusable glass bottle can be reused 25-50 times before being retired and recycled into new glass packaging.
By providing a closed loop system that keeps returnable wine bottles in circulation, Revino will support the wine industry’s drive towards lower emissions, reduce reliance on imported glass, and drive a more circular and sustainable model.
“In the spirit of hope and possibility, I envision a world where reusable bottles are not just a practical solution, but instead symbolize our collective determination and commitment to safeguarding our natural resources for future generations,” said Keenan O’Hern, founder of Revino. “Revino is more than a business venture; this is a shared journey toward a more sustainable and thriving future.”
More than 70 wineries have joined in with Revino’s mission since the company’s inception. As part of the program, Revino will deliver reusable glass bottles to participating wineries, which will be filled using standard bottling equipment. Wine in Revino bottles will be available beginning in the summer of 2024.
Once empty, the reusable bottles can be returned to the winery they were purchased at or any partner locations, including all participating winery tasting rooms and select retailers and restaurants. Collected bottles will be brought back to Revino’s state-of-the-art bottle washing facility, where they will be washed, inspected, and tested to ensure they are ready to start the process again.
“To date, the staggering annual disposal of 16.2 billion glass containers underscores the paradox of glass packaging in the wine industry, responsible for 30-60% of winery emissions,” Revino notes at its website, “while being a negative commodity in recycling. Despite its challenges, glass remains indispensable as the sole inert option, not requiring winemaking adjustments or affecting shelf life. However, escalating threats to bottle supply chains, including tariffs and pandemic disruptions, pose significant challenges to the industry’s reliance on imported bottles, primarily from China.”
About Revino
Revino provides wine bottle reclamation and sanitation services to wine producers while building a robust local and sustainable glass supply network. Through their revolutionary Returnable Glass Bottles (RGBs) and certified quality washing processes, Revino empowers wineries to embrace sustainability and positively impact the environment.
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Rick LeBlanc, EMBA, is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News (subscribe to the free newsletter) and editor of Western Pallet Magazine. A supply chain journalist with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in pallets, reusable packaging, material handling and related operations. Rick is co-author of Pallets: A North American Perspective and Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945. He is also an advisory board member of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. Read Rick’s full bio.
