Through its Rigid Packaging business, Amcor (Zurich, Switzerland; www.amcor.com) has announced the US market launch of its first 0.75 litre wine bottle made from 100% rPET. The Californian Ron Rubin Winery is now distributing four grape varieties of the 2022 vintage – Vin Rosé, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc – under the Blue Bin brand in these lightweight containers.

The US winemaker highlights the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional bottles, as glass bottles would cause 30% of the CO₂ footprint of wine. Wine bottles made of PET are said to be 85% lighter than glass bottles and to cause one third of the greenhouse gas emissions. As an additional plus, wine can be enjoyed at places where unbreakable containers are preferred: the beach, in baths or while camping.

Blue Bin bottles have a thin oxygen barrier made of glass (Plasmax) on the inside to prevent the contents from coming into direct contact with the rPET. The line’s name, Blue Bin, is an allusion to the origin of the recycled material from which the bottles are made, according to the company.

Amcor, however, is not the first to launch wine bottles made of PET.

For your information, there is an inaccuracy in the statement that Packamama launched its rPET in April 2023.  The parent company of UK start-up Packamama (London; www.packamama.com) first brought rPET wine bottles to market in 2018. A spokesperson from the company informed Plasteurope.com that the firm was then known as Garcon Wines, while the packaging side of the business was named Packamama in March 2022. Italy’s Sipa (Vittorio Veneto; www.sipa.it) introduced its PET sparkling wine bottle in June this year, in cooperation with PET world market leader Indorama Ventures (IVL, Bangkok, Thailand; www.indoramaventures.com).