Promoters
ReWINE ReWINE is a project based on reusing wine bottles, developed and carried out in Catalonia and financed by the European Commission’s LIFE+ programme, which has brought together all the key agents in the wine value chain (including wineries, waste recycling plants, bars, restaurants, retail, shops and consumers). The project covered the entire process involved in the reuse of bottles: from washing, labelling, bottling and distribution to the market, to their collection.
The UAB Research Park (PRUAB) coordinated the project and the and the Catalan Foundation for Waste Prevention and Responsible Consumption (Rezero), the Catalan Waste Agency, the Falset Marçà Cooperative, Cellers Torres, the Infinity plant and inèdit were the other promoters. The event was also attended by different wineries and supermarkets, such as Veritas and Ametller Origen.
Challenge
Identifying the opportunities and obstacles affecting the implementation of returnable glass bottle systems in the wine industry, as well as demonstrating their technical, environmental and economic viability.
What was done?
The studio featured a pilot phase involving 7 wineries, 32 shops, 54 restaurants, and 2 logistics operators. Different reuse scenarios were implemented in a demonstrative way and their environmental, economic and technical feasibility was analysed. A life cycle assessment methodology was used to compare bottles which had been reused up to eight times with the use of eight new single-use bottles. All the information was transferred to the Catalan Waste Agency for consideration in their current and future strategies and policies.
Results
99
Agents involved.
82.239
Reused glass bottles.
171.058
Tonnes of CO2 eq. emissions avoided.
Conclusions
The reWINE project has successfully demonstrated the technical, environmental, social and economic viability of this system for the reuse of glass bottles in the Catalan wine industry. In addition, due to its success and good results, the European sphere has made the project public and published it on Zero Waste Europe which has been translated into nine languages.
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