Packamama, a packaging company known for producing the award-winning ‘eco-flat’ wine bottle, has developed a product designed to improve sustainability and efficiency within the packaging industry. The eco-flat wine bottle recently received the Recycled Content Award at the annual Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) Awards 2024, recognising its excellence in sustainable packaging design. The bottle is made entirely from recycled PET, sourced from the Smithfield recycling facility in New South Wales, Australia. The use of recycled materials aligns with the company’s objective to reduce waste and promote circularity in packaging.

The flat design of the bottle serves both an aesthetic and practical purpose. The shape allows the bottles to be stacked more efficiently, enabling more bottles to be transported at once, which leads to fewer transport movements and a reduction in CO2 emissions, potentially benefiting the entire supply chain.

Environmental Benefits of the Flat Wine Bottle
Packamama’s flat wine bottles made from recycled PET have been found to have a lower environmental impact compared to traditional glass bottles. A recent evaluation by The Wine Society indicated that the PET bottles are 79% lighter than glass bottles, which reduces energy consumption during transport and lowers overall carbon emissions. Additionally, testing showed that the quality of the wine in the PET bottles was maintained even after 12 months of storage, highlighting the feasibility of this solution for the industry.

The use of recycled PET in these bottles is part of Packamama’s effort to integrate more sustainable design principles into the packaging industry. By prioritising recycled content, the company aims to contribute to the transition to a circular economy where waste is reduced, and resources are reused. This approach supports broader sustainability goals within the packaging sector and aligns with the increasing focus on adopting circular design principles.

User-Friendly Design for Consumers
Packamama’s flat PET bottles are designed to be both sustainable and user-friendly. The flat design makes the bottles easier to hold and store, for example, in the door of a refrigerator. These practical advantages, combined with the environmentally friendly features, make the bottles appealing to both consumers and producers seeking more sustainable packaging solutions.

Commitment to Circular Design Principles
The eco-flat wine bottle represents an innovation in sustainable packaging. By using fully recycled material and focusing on circular design, Packamama aims to reduce waste and keep valuable resources within the supply chain for as long as possible, minimising the need for virgin materials.

Sustainable Packaging and Industry Impact
Packamama’s approach demonstrates how the use of sustainable materials and innovative design can work together to reduce the environmental impact of packaging. For packaging designers, architects, product designers, and other creatives interested in sustainable solutions, this serves as an example of how recycled materials and efficient design can contribute to more sustainable packaging systems that meet consumer demand for environmentally friendly products.

Recognition for Sustainable Innovation
Packamama recently received the Recycled Content Award at the annual Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) Awards 2024, which took place on 21 November in Sydney. The award recognises companies that excel in sustainable innovations in packaging design. Alex Adais, Sustainability Manager at Packamama, stated that the recognition serves as motivation to continue innovating in sustainable packaging design.

APCO CEO Chris Foley praised Packamama and other companies committed to circular packaging systems, highlighting the importance of progress within the sector. The focus on innovative material use, such as recycled PET, indicates that viable solutions exist that can have an impact on the entire supply chain and help accelerate the transition to a more sustainable system.

Source: Winetitles Media, the Wine Society, Designboom
Photos: The Wine Society, Packamama