Sustainability 2024 | Page 11

SUPPLIERS
There have been exciting developments in lightweight glass molds and alternative materials for wine bottles , says Madison Grace , general manager of Natural Merchants Organic Wine Imports at Amass Brand Group .
“ Personally , I favor the 1.5L wine bag ,” she says . “ It can look quite premium while being significantly lighter than glass , making it more sustainable to transport and excellent at protecting the wine from oxygen . As consumer preferences evolve and sustainability concerns grow , these innovations may very well reshape how we package and enjoy wine in the coming years .”
Grocer store chain Albertsons Companies recently debuted Bee Lightly , the newest addition to its Own Brands wine portfolio , featuring the first flat , 100 % recycled PET wine bottles in the U . S . The new packaging is 87 % lighter than traditional glass bottles , allows twice as many products to be transported per pallet and has a smaller environmental footprint compared to conventional wine bottles by reducing transportation-related emissions , according to the company .
Sun Moon Rising , an astrology-inspired sustainable wine brand in New York , uses Stelvin screw caps for their wine bottles . “ We find that this is more sustainable these days instead of using cork ,” says cofounder Kate Webb .
While Avivo still uses corks to bottle their wine , Evers notes that they have begun eliminating the caps covering the top of the bottle , starting with the 2023 harvest .
“ You have to start asking why we do certain things , right ? We used to use capsules because the wines were stored in a cellar that was damp and cool ,” he says .
“ Now , the bottle just needs to live long enough to get from the store to your house and then you ’ re going to drink it . It doesn ’ t need a capsule — it ’ s a throwaway item .”
Grocer store chain Albertsons Companies recently debuted the wine brand Bee Lightly , packaged in the first flat , 100 % recycled PET wine bottles in the U . S .
HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE SUN
Paso Robles , CA-based Firestone Walker Brewing Company ’ s solar array offsets 1,210 metric tons of carbon emissions annually and recaptures 4.4 million pounds of CO2 yearly , the company states . By 2025 , the solar arrays will power 60 % of the brewery , generating 5 million kilowatt hours annually .
“ Although technology is constantly improving the brewing process and efficiency , it is merely incremental , principally because brewers have been focused on these sustainable processes for centuries ,” says Firestone Walker cofounder David Walker .
“ That said , any new technology adds to an already heavy capital burden that an Old World production format like a brewer demands ,” he continues . “ The brewery needs to be fi- nancially healthy and working within its limits to afford some of these innovations . There needs to be a culture and commitment to reducing waste and repurposing materials such that long-term investments are supported .”
Going beyond solar panels , Aspen Vodka Distillery in Colorado is the first distillery in the world to obtain the LEEDv4 BD + C Platinum certification , which is awarded to buildings

Grain de Sail ' s Sustainable Shipping

Given the weight of liquids and bottles , shipping products is another common sustainability concern in beverage alcohol . Grain de Sail offers a solution : It ships goods via cargo sailboat that harnesses the power of the wind to reduce emissions by over 90 %, the company says .
“ Our fleet of boats are specifically designed to move forward exclusively by using the power of the wind ,” says export director Pierre Maruzzi . “ We also have some technologies on board that provide us with renewable energies , such as solar panels and hydro generators .”
Grain de Sail transports a variety of items including wine and spirits , industrial equipment , health and beauty products , textiles and fashion , dry food and musical instruments . They also create their own sustainable French wines that are then imported to New York .
“ The wine venture that we do is really to showcase the most sustainable practices from the vineyard all the way to the final distribution ,” says Maruzzi . “ During the sourcing process , we have a very strict set of rules — the biggest one being that we only source from vines that are made using biodynamic principles .”
2024 Sustainability Guide 11