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By Chris Smith
PET firms reject French wine bottle findings

There are few industries as steeped in tradition as wine production, where change does not happen fast. But even in this most conservative sector some companies are looking at alternative and more sustainable packaging options. Top of the list is replacing the traditional glass bottle with lighter alternatives that reduce energy use and carbon emissions.

Producers such as Artenius PET Packaging in Europe and the US-based Ball Corporation – now part of Amcor – claim their barrier PET bottles deliver all the shelf life required for everyday wines. And a PET wine bottle weighs just 50g, while the latest ‘lightweight’ glass design from Owens Illinois weighs 328g.

Earlier this year, UK retailer Marks & Spencer announced it was to convert 100% of its single-serve wine bottles to multilayer PET. However, the Marks & Spencer announcement coincided with a study, from the Bordeaux, France-based Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences (ISVV), which said wine packaged in multilayer PET exhibits a noticeable reduction in quality within just six months.

The ongoing study is being run by the ISVV vice principal Martine Pietton-Peuchot together with senior lecturer Rémy Ghidossi. It uses gas analysis, colour analysis and tasting panels to determine the quality of red and white wines packaged in a variety of formats, including 3-litre bag-in-box, 25 and 75cl monolayer PET bottles with screw cap, 25 and 75cl multilayer PET bottles with screw caps, and 25 and 75cl glass bottles with screw caps. The study does not include glass bottles with either natural or synthetic cork closures.

In its preliminary findings, ISVV says white wines packaged in the single and multi-layer PET bottles were "clearly oxidised" after six months, while the glass packaged wines were described as "stable". This was reportedly confirmed by both expert and novice tasting panels. For red wines, ISVV said it found "initial signs" of deterioration in the PET and bag-in-box packs but there was not enough evidence to draw a definite conclusion.

The published results include no details about the types of bottles used or the packaging conditions and Ghidossi refused to provide further information to European Plastics News prior to publication of the full study later this year. This refusal to put information in the public domain has been criticised by Cor Jansen, R&D Director of Artenius PET Packaging Europe.
"I find it very unprofessional to publish interim results, which are clearly up for debate, while the researchers are not available for
a professional discussion and peer review," he told European Plastics News. "We have questions about the bottles used, the barrier technology, filling methods, empty bottle treatment prior to filling, head space volume and variation, exact closures and test protocols."

Jansen said Artenius, which expects to supply around 8m barrier PET bottles for wine packaging this year, has completed its own studies on red and white wines packaged in its BindOx and MonoBlox barrier bottles. Professional taste panels can detect no difference compared to wine packaged in glass after one year, he said.

Jansen’s doubts over the findings are supported by Marks & Spencer, which spent two years evaluating the performance of the barrier PET packaged wines it buys from specialist French wine negociant Paul Sapin via its UK partner Roger Harris Wines.
"We went through extensive testing and the results were very positive. We are absolutely confident that the plastics packaged wine is as good as that packed in glass," said a spokesman for the retailer.

Paul Sapin claims the MLP 75cl wine bottle – which has an Artenius BindOx active scavenger multi layer PET bottle and PE capsule closure from Novembal – has a two year minimum shelf life.

Last year, Paul Sapin sold around 4m 75cl PET bottles and 8m single-serve sizes, including more than 1m to the Systembolaget alcohol retail monopoly in Sweden.