There are more and more wines on the market that dispense with the aluminum capsule, an element that was originally designed to protect the cork of mold, bacteria or possible rodents that could be found in the cellars but that today has a purely aesthetic and branding function. In this context, there are many who wonder if it is worth keeping tradition above the commitment to sustainability.

As he writes Sean P. Sullivan in the magazine Wine Enthusiast and collect the Washington Post in this article, "it makes no sense to preach the importance of sustainability on the one hand and, on the other hand, to put an unnecessary waste on top of every bottle". And it is that aluminum capsules have an added economic cost for the wineries but also for the planet, because they increase the environmental footprint of the bottle and the amount of waste it generates, in addition to making recycling more difficult.

In addition, the use of these capsules comes into conflict with the demands of consumers who every day demand more sustainability in the products they buy. This is certified by the study of Nielsen “Beverage Alcohol Category Shopping Fundamentals” which the magazine collects Vinepair in this article: 73% of consumers say they are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging, a figure that rises to 83% among younger shoppers (ages 21-44). 

In a context of global warming and drought that is also affecting wine producers, there are already sustainable initiatives that work for the elimination of aluminum capsules to reduce waste. It is the case of the company Berry Bros. & Rudd, which as indicated Sustainable Wine in this article has launched a strategy to meet 2030 sustainability goals that includes capsule-free wines and a plan to recycle corks. 

Cork, an ally

In this context where we are working to achieve 0 waste strategies, the cork stopper becomes a great ally of wineries, as it is not only 100% recyclable and biodegradable, but also has a negative carbon footprint which helps to reduce the ecological footprint of the bottles in the wineries.

In addition, with the trend towards the elimination of aluminum capsules and, therefore, the exposure of the cap inside the bottle, cork takes on a new role, as it can become a powerful marketing tool that contributes to deploying the winery's communication strategy through the labeling of the cork. 

In this sense, fromCork initiative the competition was promoted in 2018 EnoDesign Experience to enhance the cap as an element of communication through graphic design, the personalization of the caps or the generation of codes.

PHOTO: EnoDesign Experience, Mique (Estudio Mique)