How wine in boxes saves the environment
Isn't wine in cardboard boxes kind of, well, cheap?
Not so, says Italy in this op-ed piece in today's New York Times.
Turns out, the box has about half the cost of the environment as the bottle, and people in more and more countries have no qualms about a higher-octane juice box.
Do you? Let us know in the comments section below.
Update on Tuesday: There have been many comments about recycling and cardboard. (Still awaiting comments on plastic and leeching). Here's one recycling response on an nyt message board:
"Who recycles wine boxes? Why recyclers do! This isn't a snarky answer to a truly inane question, well maybe a little. If you have curb side recycling in city or town in which you live, chances are they pick up corrugated cardboard, the material used for these boxes. It recycles rather well, actually. And the more we recycle it, the fewer tress we need to cut down to make the raw material. So, yes, it does make sense to use cardboard.''
— ecotopian, Oregon
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What about the plastic bladder inside? I don't believe that they can be recycled.
Interesting the only concern about the environment was the 'carbon saved' through shipping, and not the cost or earth-friendliness of the packaging. Glass is easy to recycle. Are these special boxes with plastic bladders and composite taps also easily recyclable? Or are they landfill fodder? Do the boxes take less 'carbon' to make than glass bottles?? I'd love to see the second half of the carbon equation...
Isn't there plastic in wine boxes?
Isnt the glass bottle much easier to recycle? It does not use cardboard and plastic, just glass. The plastic bladder in the box seems bad for the environment and a pain than just a glass bottle. Please let me know why the box is better then the bottle
I'd like to see all of the plastic made recyclable also.
With regard to using the box instead of a bottle. I don't have any qualms. I think that a cubic box is more efficient to ship. Less subject to breaking. It weighs less than a similar sized bottle and is convenient.
I'd just like a better selection of wine.
Interesting the only concern about the environment was the 'carbon saved' through shipping, and not the cost or earth-friendliness of the packaging. Glass is easy to recycle. Are these special boxes with plastic bladders and composite taps also easily recyclable? Or are they landfill fodder? Do the boxes take less 'carbon' to make than glass bottles?? I'd love to see the second half of the carbon equation...
I think you also need to take in to consideration the life of the the container after you drink the wine. The box that wine comes in is made of several different materials and may be difficult to recycle. Glass is an easy material to recycle.
I think you also need to take in to consideration the life of the the container after you drink the wine. The box that wine comes in is made of several different materials and may be difficult to recycle. Glass is an easy material to recycle.
1. there are more servings in a box of wine than there are in a standard size wine bottle
2. boxes of wine do not contribute to cork farming
3. paper is easier to recycle than glass
4. plastic is recyclable
5. more respectable wines are becoming available in the box form, look it up
just some thoughts
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