The Trashy Truth About Wine Bottle Recycling

Educational series on glass waste in the wine industry

Welcome to The Rejoicing Vine educational series, where we explore ways to be better stewards for the Indianapolis community. As we celebrate Earth Month, we thought it would be fitting to focus on environmental stewardship and something most of us probably don’t give much thought but has a big impact on the carbon footprint of our beloved drink—GLASS—in particular the glass bottle used for wine packaging.

We get it. You probably didn’t wake up this morning thinking about glass. But considering its impact on the planet, maybe we all should.

The Glass Waste Problem in the U.S.

Glass is a great packaging material because it is infinitely recyclable, meaning, IF it is recylced it can be recycled over and over again without losing quality. Unfortunately in the United States, we’re failing to recycle it effectively. According to the EPA, of the 24.5 billion pounds of glass used annually, only 25% is actually recycled, while a staggering 62% ends up in landfills—the worst possible outcome.

Meanwhile, in the European Union, around 80% of glass is recycled. If they can do it, why can’t we? The good news is that we have a clear path to improving our glass waste rates—and wineries can play a huge role in that shift.

The Best Solution? Reduce

Before we even get to increasing recycling rates, there’s something even more effective: reducing our glass usage in the first place. At The Rejoicing Vine, we’re always first looking for ways to reduce because ultimately that's the most sustainable option. One of the biggest changes we’ve made is rethinking how we package our wine.

Traditionally, wineries rely almost exclusively on glass bottles. But we asked ourselves: Is there a better, more circular way to package wine? One that doesn't produce waste in the first place?

Wine Kegs: A Simple Yet Powerful Alternative

When searching for solutions, we looked to an industry that has already figured out how to cut back on glass waste—the beer industry. What did we find? Kegs.

By switching to stainless steel kegs that can be reused over and over again, we’ve drastically reduced our need for glass bottles. Here’s how it works:

• A half-barrel keg holds the equivalent of 70 bottles of wine.

• Instead of single-use bottles, we clean, sanitize, and refill the same kegs.

• Every time we refill a keg, we save 70 bottles from being produced, shipped, and discarded.

In just a year and a half, kegging has helped us eliminate over 3,300 pounds of glass waste—and we’re just getting started. Glass has an estimated 3:1 ratio of CO2 emissions so that 3,300 pounds of glass saved is the equivalent of 9,900 pounds of CO2 emissions saved.

Beyond Kegging: Reusing & Upcycling Glass

Of course, not every bottle can be eliminated. When we do use glass, we look for ways to reuse or upcycle it instead of sending it straight to recycling (or worse, the landfill).

• Bottle Reuse Programs – Some wineries partner with programs like Revino in Oregon, which helps collect and sanitize used wine bottles for reuse. Unfortunately Revino doesn't have a program for Indiana wineries but they've been kind enough to provide us guidance on getting our own program started.

• Upcycling in Creative Ways – At The Rejoicing Vine, we’ve turned old wine bottles into water glasses. If you’ve ever visited, you might have noticed our signature green drinking glasses—yep, those were once wine bottles!

  
  

Wine Bottle Recycling: Our Last Resort

Wine bottle recycling should be the last resort for glass disposal (instead of trashing it). As mentioned, when single use packaging is necessary, glass is a great material because it is infinitely recyclable but we have to make sure the material makes it back into the recycling stream. At The Rejoicing Vine we make sure all of our glass is recycled if it's not reused. Which brings us to our call to action and how you as a wine consumer can help.

How You Can Help Reduce Glass Waste

As a wine lover, you have more influence than you think! Here’s how you can make a difference:

1️⃣ Ask your favorite wineries about their sustainability efforts. Believe it or not, not all wineries recycle their glass waste. If you visit a winery, ask them how they reduce, reuse, or recycle their bottles? Are they looking for ways to reduce waste? If not, encourage them to start by sharing that it's important to you.

2️⃣ Look for wineries using alternative packaging. More brands are embracing kegs, cans, and reusable glass systems to cut down on waste. You vote with every dollar you spend. Support these places by purchasing their product.

3️⃣ Encourage your favorite restaurants and other businesses that serve wine. Aside from wineries there are other businesses that serve lots of wine - restaurants for example. Ask them what they do with their wine bottle waste. Do they have a tap? Have they considered serving more than just beer from the tap?

4️⃣ Be mindful of your own consumption habits. As a consumer you have power. Where you choose to spend your dollars has a big impact. Be mindful of that. Small changes—like choosing wines from eco-conscious producers or ensuring the wine is made locally rather than shipped across the country or world—can have a big impact.

Final Thoughts

Glass waste may not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think about sustainability, but it’s an issue that deserves our attention—especially in the wine industry. While recycling is important, the best solutions start with reducing and reusing.

At The Rejoicing Vine, we’re committed to finding better ways to package wine and cut down on waste. But we can’t do it alone! We’d love to hear from you—what are some creative ways you reduce waste at home? Do you have ideas for how wineries can be more sustainable?

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