Meagan Littlejohn: Sustainability essential for New Zealand wine exports
Sustainability is no longer a "nice to have", says Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand Programme Manager Meagan Littlejohn.
It is the first country Visy works in to achieve that goal.
"New Zealand wineries, and food and beverage businesses can now claim some of the most sustainable glass packaging in the world," says Chief Executive Mark De Wit. "Thanks to New Zealand's green electricity grid and Visy's high recycled content."
Visy manufactuers more than 700 million glass bottles and jars in New Zealand each year, with an average of 70% recycled glass.
A Visy glass container with 70% recycled glass can be up to 30% less greenhouse gas intensive than one made from virgin materials.
Lightweighting is another key part of Visy's sustainable designs, says National Sales Manager Ben Rea.
"Reducing the weight of a glass bottle means using less raw material and lowering greenhouse gas emissions every unit."
Fifteen years ago, an average wine bottle weighed more than 560 grams, he says.
"Today most Visy bottles made in New Zealand are likely to be under 420g and we have progressively moved towards 360g wine bottles."
