Wolf Blass has released two of its wines in plastic bottles in Ontario in a bid to reduce glass use across the province.
Bilyara Reserve Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, packed in 75cl PET (polyethylene terephthalate), are on sale in 350 stores run by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO).
LCBO approached Fosters as part of its aim to reduce glass use across the province by 10m kg/year.
Wolf Blass owner Fosters claims PET will reduce waste by 85%. Plastic bottles weigh 54g empty, compared to 400-750g for premium export glass.
PET wine bottles can be recycled, and according to most reliable sources, PET resins are inert, and in landfill do not degrade, form a strong and permanent soil base, and emit no gases or leachates known to pollute water resources.
After research Fosters decided that the Canadian market, especially younger people, was ready for the innovation.
According to research carried out by the company wine ages in PET in a similar way to glass.
‘The new package gives our consumers more options on how they want to enjoy their wines,’ said Scott Oliver, President, Wolf Blass Wines Canada. He also pointed out the environmental advantages of the new packaging.
PET bottled wine is being marketed in Canada under the slogan ‘All Blass, no Glass’.
Fosters has no plans to introduce plastic bottles into other markets at the moment. Two other Blass varietals are slated for release in Ontario in plastic next year.
Written by Frank Smith
