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Wild Glass produced by Estal Packaging
Chateau Montelena's custom-branded cardboard packaging
Packaging plays an important role in customer perception. We are hearing more and more stories from Napa Green members about the benefits of greener packaging AND customers giving kudos for eliminating Styrofoam and lightening packages.
The Elegance of Lighter Glass: One weighty topic that is getting a lot of attention right now is glass bottles. Somewhere along the way bigger, heavier bottles got onerously associated with higher quality, but perceptions are starting to shift.
Years ago, I was consulting with Benziger Family Winery and we started exploring lightening up bottles. The Executive Team was worried the bottles would look cheaper. We did a lineup of bottles – the originals mixed with lighter weight options. No one could tell the difference. Benziger was able to significantly reduce shipments, with huge cost and carbon footprint savings. More recently Jackson Family Wines shaved two ounces off bottle weight across 85% of their production. This reduced their overall emissions by four percent and saved them $1 million a year.
The benefits of lighter glass include reducing raw materials, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions during production; reducing transportation emissions and costs; and reducing workplace injuries from employees lifting heavy cases of wine.
These benefits are part of why Erica Harrop, Founder and President of the Napa-based company Global Package chose to launch their Elegant Light Line™ of wine bottles that provide wineries with durable and attractive alternatives to standard-weight bottles.
Consumers around the world are paying much closer attention to the cause and effect of products on the environment.
One of Global Package’s Elegant Light customers is Julie Johnson with Tres Sabores Winery.
Erica has been a true partner to us: we share green sourcing and conservation goals. When she told me that she was sourcing glass that was not only lighter, but produced using greener energy I was all in.
Julie also notes the shift was seamless on the bottling line and the bottom line.
Custom, Recyclable Packaging with Quadruple Benefits: In 2017, Chateau Montelena decided it was time to move away from wood boxes for wine shipments, which were expensive to ship and didn’t provide high enough protection from breakage. They decided to shift to custom-branded cardboard with individual inserts using Coastal Products pulp.
The new packaging allowed them to fit more bottles and boxes in each shipment, with significant cost savings. For instance, it reduced the number of shipments to New York from five to two. This hugely reduced the carbon footprint of shipments to and from the winery. In addition, this lighter footprint packaging reduced breakage by nearly fifty percent. And that is not to mention that the cardboard and pulp packaging is more affordable than wooden boxes.
It was definitely the right move and we’ve received many positive compliments in being ahead of the curve on packaging.
Pushing the Envelope: Global Package is launching a new collection of Wild Glass produced by Estal Packaging, which is 100% sustainable “real cycled” and boasts a greener production process. The Wild Glass is produced from post-consumer recycled glass collected from municipalities and its production method uses lower fuel consumption.
The Wild Glass bottles are produced allowing for slight imperfections in appearance, resulting in a unique bottle that showcases their commitment to sustainability. This distinctive style of glass makes it easy for customers to identify brands that are environmental change leaders.
Making the commitment to third party certification takes time and effort, but it is worth it to demonstrate our commitment to the community and to protect our watershed, our land and the air we breathe.
What you can do in the vineyard & what you can do at home! 🌼🦋
#happyearthday #earthmonth #sustainability #biodiversity #pollinators #herbicidefree #napa #napavalley #cheers
Come get involved this Earth Month! 🌎🌱
🌷 Earth Day Napa - Saturday, April 20th 11am -4pm at Oxbow Commons
🌷All Things Bottle Sustainability Workshop - Friday, April 26th at @pineridgewine from 9am -12:30pm. Registration is $20
🌷 All Things Bottle Sustainability Dinner! Friday, April 26th at @neotempowines with Karen MacNeil & Chef Dave Cruz!
Message us directly or head to the link in our bio for info!
Exciting news from @amici_cellars!
In celebration of Earth Month, from now through May 11, use code NAPAGREEN for 10% off your wine purchase. Even better? We’ll donate 20% of each sale to @napagreen and their sustainable initiatives.
We are proud to be Napa Green-certified, joining their mission for environmental stewardship. Stay tuned this week to learn more about our certification and about how Napa Green is pioneering a greener future in our valley.
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#amicicellars #NapaGreen #Sustainability #WineLovers #napawine #makeyourdollarscount #deliciouswine #cabernet #winecollector
Economic benefits & ROI of workshops: In a time of changing consumer trends, we want you think of us as extended members of your team. We are here to help share information of ways to not only increase your sustainability but also share with you how these things bring with them ROI, decrease in cost, consumer approval & many other economic benefits.
Join us at our All Things Bottle Sustainability Workshop to hear from our panel of experts. Registration is $20 and the link can be found in our profile. Cheers!
📣 Don’t miss these events!
April 26th - All Things Bottle Sustainability, Pine Ridge Vineyards, 9:00am.
May 23rd - The Future of Water Workshop, 9:00am.
On April 26 we have 12+ speakers covering all aspects of climate smart glass and packaging. Digging in on the truly most sustainable recyclable/compostable/reusable options, with some product show and tell.
On May 23 we have keynotes from two incredible speakers and internationally renowned experts: Peter Gleick, co-founder of the Pacific Institute and author of The Three Ages of Water, and Mimi Casteel, vineyard manager at Hope Well Wine and forest ecologist.
Register now!
Join us for a dinner that brilliantly combines luxury and sustainability with Vintner Kia Behnia, acclaimed Chef Dave Cruz and The Wine Bible Author, Karen MacNeil!
This event will help Napa Green raise much needed funding to keep our non profit thriving. For more info head to the link in our bio or email social@napagreen.org!
Looking for great sustainable wineries to visit?
Check out the great post from @visitnapavalley featuring Napa Green Certified Wineries @grgichhills @bennettlanewinery @cakebreadcellars @cliffamily @josephphelps @stsupery and @tressabores.
Cheers to Keeping Napa Valley Forever Green!
We invite you join us at a very special wine dinner with @karenmacneilco, Chef Dave Cruz and @neotempowines to raise funds for climate action in the wine industry.
For further details please go to the link in our profile or email social@napagreen.org.
We hope to see you there. Cheers!
This #earthmonth we are partnering with the Napa Valley Vintners all month long on #30ways30days! To kick off the month we are highlighting our 6 Pillars of Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership that encompass a whole systems approach to #sustainability in the wine industry. These pillars are the foundational, driving forces for our work with our Napa Green Certified members who are leading the way in regenerative practices and sustainability.
Join in by posting about one of the pillars, then tag @napagreen and @napavintners and use #30Ways30Days along with the hashtags pictured here. Stay with us all month long to learn more about Napa Green and all of the great work being done here in Napa Valley!
Happy Earth Month! While our members celebrate the Earth every day of the year, this month is a great time to showcase those sustainability practices and tell consumers what you do to be green! Be sure to tag @napagreen in your posts, join us @earthdaynapa, and reach out for more ways to get involved!
Meghan brings her passion for wine and sustainability together in her role as @napagreen’s social media manager. She is both a Vintner and Certified Sommelier and helps our members share their sustainability stories, emphasizing how caring for nature and community elevates both quality and guest experience.
Thanks for your unwavering passion and dedication @mvino1!
Join the @napagreen team this earth month at events around the valley at @cliffamily @earthdaynapa @silveroakcellars and more.
We look forward to talking (and drinking) sustainability with you!
Say hi to @marisataylorwines, our Winery & Climate Specialist. Marisa has supported sustainable farming and green practices from vineyard to cellar and across all winemaking operations and continues to leverage her expertise to help wineries become climate action champions.
Thanks for all you do!
Last week we had a great climate smart burn and alternatives demonstration @gloriaferrerwinery where attendees learned techniques for a conservation/low-smoke burn with demonstrations from @thecleanburncompany and @napa.char.
Additionally, speakers from @naparcd and Treasury Wine Estates presented the results from a recent vineyard biochar application research project.
Learn more on our website.
Have you met Sierra, our Climate & Soil Specialist? Sierra works tirelessly to advance climate resiliency in the Napa Valley by collaborating with growers to realize their climate action aspirations.
Say hi to @growresiliently next time you see her in the field. Thanks for all that you do, Sierra!
