Packamama secures US$62,304 feasibility grant to advance eco-conscious wine packaging in Australia

AUSTRALIA – Packamama has been awarded a A$100,000 (US$62,304) feasibility grant from the Australian government to explore sustainable packaging solutions for the wine industry.

The grant, provided under the Business Research and Innovation Initiative (BRII), will support Packamama in assessing the technical and commercial viability of innovative packaging designs tailored to Australian wines.

This funding is part of a broader A$1.43 million initiative addressing challenges in wine packaging, safe drinking water, and energy efficiency in commercial fishing.

The initiative, supported by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources and Wine Australia, seeks to lower carbon emissions in the wine industry while maintaining the high-quality standards expected for premium wines.

Due to the weight and energy-intensive production of glass, manufacturing and transporting traditional glass wine bottles accounted for 74% of the industry’s carbon emissions in 2020–21.

Packamama’s project aims to deliver a lighter, eco-friendly alternative that meets consumer expectations for premium wine quality.

The company plans to build upon its 100% recycled PET eco-flat bottle, originally designed for commercial wines, by improving materials and design for premium varieties with longer shelf lives.

Key areas of focus include researching advanced polymers and performance additives to address challenges like oxygen permeability and aroma absorption, enhancing wine protection and shelf life, and digitally simulating bottle performance to meet premium wines’ aesthetic and functional standards.

The feasibility study, launched on December 16, 2024, will span four months, exploring manufacturing technologies to enable large-scale adoption in Australia and beyond.

This initiative aligns with the Australian wine industry’s Emissions Reduction Roadmap, which targets a 42% carbon reduction by 2030.

Packamama’s efforts aim to support these goals by addressing significant industry emissions contributors.

In 2024, Packamama collaborated with Aldi to launch flat wine bottles made from recycled PET in the UK.

These bottles, designed to optimize storage and transport, weighed just 63g and reportedly removed 42 tonnes of bottle weight during their first launch.

Their flat design allowed for 30% more bottles per pallet, reducing transport needs by 30% compared to traditional round bottles and providing significant environmental benefits without compromising wine volume.

Packamama’s latest project will extend these innovations to the Australian market, advancing sustainable practices while maintaining the integrity of premium wine packaging.

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