Wine in cardboard bottles hits French supermarkets 

Wine in cardboard bottles is about to hit French supermarket shelves, aimed at ecologically-conscious drinkers. The bottles’ carbon footprint is said to be a fifth of that of glass bottles.

The wines, which will mostly come from single domains, will cost between €7 and €10, and are described as ready to drink, as the bottles cannot keep wine in good condition for years.

Thomas Lagarde, of Var-based La Bouteille Qui Cartonne, said: “Wine buyers are all different, but if I had to say, I think the typical buyer will be aged 30 to 45 and concerned about the environment.”

Glass bottles are estimated to cause 80% of wine’s carbon dioxide footprint, due to the processes involved in their production and their weight, which adds to transport costs.

The new bottles have a recycled cardboard exterior, which is British-made, and can be printed on directly or wrapped in a label. Inside, there is a thin pouch made from the same plastic used for water bottles. They have a steel screw top, as the bottles cannot support the force needed for a cork. Sparkling wines cannot be bottled this way.

Although the new bottles are slightly more expensive than glass ones, Mr Lagarde has convinced some local producers. He offers to fill them if people wish, but says the new equipment needed is inexpensive for winemakers to install.

He has also signed a deal with Monoprix, under which producers who sell their wine in glass bottles will also be able to sell it in cardboard for the same price. 

“I am confident I will get the bottles into more supermarkets in the next couple of years – like most people, they want to do their bit for the climate,” he said.

The bottles are intended for yellow recycling bins. Waste operators will separate the cardboard from the plastic: the cardboard will be recycled, and the plastic either recycled or incinerated to produce energy.