Keg wine, a sustainable innovation

So far, the wine industry has continuously relied on heavyweight glass packaging, which has a considerable carbon footprint due to water and energy demand. Yet, growing concerns about the impact of environmental challenges on wine production, distribution and consumption are pushing the wine industry to search for sustainable solutions. To make the wine industry more sustainable, how about a plastic reusable keg? Our research shows that on top of wine quality preservation, the plastic reusable keg with an airtight pouch inside that we developed and tested reduces storage volume and weight, resources consumption and wine waste. To assess the benefits of keg wine, an LCA has been done comparing wine distributed in reusable kegs or in glass bottles. Primary data were collected from the keg designer and retailer. Six indicators of the ILCD 2011 Midpoint+ method were considered as relevant for this study : Climate change, Acidification, Marine eutrophication, Freshwater ecotoxicity, Water resource depletion and Mineral, fossil & renewable resources depletion. The results show an environmental benefit of the reusable keg over the glass bottle overall. A shift from aluminum multilayer to plastic multilayer pouch and from single use to washable pouch head could improve these results. Market study results and oenological research results are also in favor of keg wine. Therefore, in order to comply with a triple economic, ecologic and social purpose, a sustainable wine industry should consider keg wine as a mean to incorporate management of product quality economics, waste and carbon footprint, and human resources.