随着全国各地的企业为实现2025年国家包装目标而努力，一项关于澳大利亚回收标签和葡萄酒行业包装创新的新教育活动是首届澳大利亚有机会议的主要讨论内容。2018年制定的2025年目标包括：100%可重复使用、可回收或可堆肥的包装，70%塑料包装被回收或堆肥，包装中平均回收含量为50%，从2020年的30%修订，逐步淘汰有问题和不必要的一次性塑料包装。澳大利亚包装公约组织（APCO）合作伙伴和项目官员Lesley Fox在会议上表示，推动实现目标的非营利组织将在未来几个月内为中小型企业实施一项新的教育活动。“我们与各种规模的企业密切合作，为他们提供改造包装所需的工具和资源，但我们很高兴宣布一项新的活动，以鼓励和引导中小型企业将更可持续的包装原则纳入他们的行动，”福克斯说。“我们认识到中小企业通常没有多少资源来支持他们需要做出的改变，因此该活动的重点之一是帮助他们开始在物品上使用澳大利亚回收标签。”APCO正与澳大利亚包裝协会、全国零售协会和澳大利亞食品與雜貨委員會合作实施教育计划。
多年来，澳大利亞一直在创新葡萄酒瓶子制作技术，其中1965年由南澳洲人Tom Angove发明了第一款木桶酒受到希腊牧羊人的启发，这种木桶能储存更多葡萄酒，但用户必须切掉角落并打开后用钉子将其密封。1971年，由Wynns推出了带有内置水龙头的大木桶，从那时起，这款不起眼的大木桶不断发展其材料选择、设计改进以及对环境影响评估方面。在首届澳大利亞有機會議期间，该行业面临挑战及机遇，以及消费者教育对于行为变革至关重要，并支持行业满足APCO 的 2025 年目标。
该会议由著名葡萄酒专家Mike Bennie主持，他指出行业需要帮助改变消费者的态度，因为许多爱好者沉浸于购买并珍藏葡萄酒体验之中。“Australian winemakers are early adopters of screwcap bottles, initially many traditionalists were skeptical but now they are considered mainstream,” Benny said. “We know consumers are more concerned about sustainable purchases and doing the right thing for the planet, so we need to start shifting consumer behavior, increasing demand for products sold in recyclable packaging (such as pouches or tin cans).”
Research from Australia's Wine Research Institute (AWRI) shows that glass packaging is a hot spot for environmental performance in the industry due to heating and melting requirements. Glass production advancements have made wine bottles lighter, with a standard 500g bottle weighing only 330g compared to premium bottles at 750g. Conference representatives suggested this could reduce the lifecycle impact by up to 18%. However, wooden cask wine packaging can achieve significant positive environmental impacts, reducing its lifecycle impact by 48% compared to standard 500g bottled wines.
Benny stated that while Australia is an innovator in the industry, British companies lead in carbon footprint reduction innovations. For example, Garcon Wines packages their products in an eco-flat recyclable bottle that weighs less than half of a standard glass bottle and has reduced volume by 40%, while Frugal brand uses food-grade cardboard and lightweight bags five times lighter than glass.
Investment in research remains a priority for Australian winery industries and packaging companies focusing on long-term sustainability. "Currently under development are self-standing pouches customized aluminum cans specifically tailored for the Australian market," he said. "As an industry we're very focused on ensuring any new packaging doesn't bring long-term environmental issues."
