Packaging Practices
Green purchasing procedures
- PLW purchases 95% of its labels from a local printing company which uses waterless inks and new technology to reduce paper wastage, toxic by-products and volatile organic compound emissions.
- 95% of the cardboard purchased by PLW for use as cartons is manufactured from recycled material.
- Recyclable materials are used to package visitors’ purchases from PLW’s Cellar Door.
- We are also looking at alternatives to replace non-recyclable stretchwrap used to protect cartons of wine shipped on pallets.
Reduction in packaging materials used
- Non-recyclable PVC capsules usage being reduced as we move to aluminium closures.
- Inners in cartons eliminated wherever possible.
Recycling
- As part of the Australian kerbside recycling program used bottles are returned to the manufacturer where they are broken down with the resultant material returned to the furnace and used again to manufacture glass.
- Corks are a renewable resource and collected by the Australian Girl Guide Association for recycling.
- Aluminium closures increasingly used instead of corks and are recyclable.
- Packaging materials received collected by recycling company.
Working with wine industry & government bodies
- Member of the National Packaging Covenant which seeks to reduce the amount of packaging materials entering the waste stream.
- 19% reduction in cardboard weight over two years to 2005/06.
- Participant in project to look at the recycling/disposal of packaging materials (container liners, pallets, slip sheeting) used in the transport of wine to overseas destinations.
