Thandi cuts carbon footprint of wine range with PET pouch

Jill Park, packagingnews.co.uk, 03 June 2009

 

South African wine brand Thandi has followed in the footsteps of sister brand Arniston Bay and launched its wine in a pouch that it claims has a carbon footprint of 20% less than glass bottles.

 

The pouches are manufactured from a composite material made from an inner and outer layer of metalised PET, which encases a layer of linear low-density polythene.

 

Flexible packaging company Astrapak and Cape Wrappers, both based in South Africa, worked together to source the raw materials used to make the pouches.

 

Cape Wrappers then manufactures the material, which is passed to Astrapak-owned Saflite to construct the pouches and attach leak-proof taps.

 

The Company of Wine People has set up a facility at its Oden Molen site in Stellenbosch, South Africa to fill the pouches.

 

"We wanted to give the consumer a pack that was light and convenient, but still retained all the characters of our quality wines," said Chris O'Shea, executive director of sales and marketing.

 

"It should also make it easier to take wine to places where glass is not always practical, but where you wish to enjoy a great wine, such as picnics and outdoor events."

 

The shelf life of the sealed pouch is nine months. The wine can then last for up to a month once opened, the company said.

 

This is possible because as the pack is emptied, oxygen is forced out to ensure the wine doesn't come into contact with any air in the pouch.

 

According to The Company of Wine People, the carbon footprint of the wine pouch is 20% less than a glass bottle that holds the same volume of wine.

 

South African wine producer The Company of Wine People's brands include Kumkani, Thandi and Arniston Bay.