SYDNEY 22 March 2022 ecoSPIRITS announced today a significant expansion of its technology portfolio, taking on the substantial waste and carbon emissions footprint of the estimated 30 billion single use glass wine bottles that are produced each year. The extension of ecoSPIRITS’ patent-pending closed loop packaging technology to premium wines marks the launch of the world’s first globally-scalable circular glass packaging solution for the category. Developed to meet the standards of leading organic and bio-dynamic wine certifications, the new ecoSPIRITS circular wine technology will be deployed first in Australia in partnership with leading global wine producer Accolade Wines. Closed loop wine service will then be made available in a number of other ecoSPIRITS markets worldwide over the second half of 2022.
The new ecoTOTE 3.0W for wine
Banrock Station’s sustainably-produced South Australian wines
Designed with premium and certified winemakers in mind, the new circular wine solution offers full lifecycle wine preservation from winery to point of service. Upgraded versions of ecoSPIRITS’ ecoPLANT™, ecoTOTE™ and SmartPour™ technologies deliver high standards of hygiene, oxidation, temperature and ultraviolet light protection for wines distributed in the closed loop system. Amongst other innovations, ecoSPIRITS’ new circular wine technology will preserve the bottle presentation and consumer brand experience in hospitality venues, a distinct difference from existing keg and tapped wine solutions. The new wine technology will leverage ecoSPIRITS’ global closed loop network, and offer the same dramatic cost and carbon footprint reduction as premium spirits.
The world's first glass-based, globally-scalable circular solution for wine
Among other technology upgrades, ecoSPIRITS has released a new version of its successful ecoPLANT technology that is tailored to process both premium wines and spirits. The new ecoPLANT 2.0W is a semi-automated, containerised wine and spirits processing facility that generates high purity nitrogen gas for ecoTOTE filling and wine blanketing, complies with leading European Union and Australia-New Zealand standards for food grade processing, and delivers gold standard wine hygiene and preservation.
The world’s first ecoPLANT 2.0W will be deployed in Sydney, Australia
The ecoPLANT 2.0W, now with high purity nitrogen gas generation
ecoSPIRITS’ award-winning ecoTOTE portfolio will now be expanded to include a wine variation, the ecoTOTE 3.0W. This newest ecoTOTE is designed specifically for premium wines, marked by a striking grey enclosure and with a stainless steel cap liner to comply with organic wine contact material standards and a tinted internal glass vessel to ensure ultraviolet protection for wines during transport and storage. The ecoTOTE 3.0W includes all of the features of the popular ecoTOTE 3.0S, including global cloud-based tracking, shock- and tamper-resistant features, and a 4.5L volume for efficient handling and transportation.
ecoTOTE 3.0W feature: tinted glass for UV light protection
ecoTOTE 3.0W feature: stainless steel cap liner for organic & biodynamic wine certifications
Headquartered in Australia, Accolade draws on a proud heritage dating back to 1836 and has become a world-leading provider of luxury, premium, mainstream, and commercial wines. With three of the top 10 wine brands in the United Kingdom and two of the top 10 brands in Australia, Accolade’s rich and diverse portfolio is made up of distinguished wine brands including Hardys, St Hallett, Petaluma, House of Arras and Banrock Station. Accolade is a fully integrated business, managing the entire supply chain from grape to glass. With more than 1,400 employees in over 40 countries around the world, Accolade delivers approximately 276 million litres of wine to 130 countries every year.
The Banrock Station winery in the Riverland, South Australia
Recognised as a leader in sustainability initiatives in the wine industry, Accolade is a signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant, a sustainable packaging initiative which aims to change the culture of business by designing more sustainable packaging, increasing recycling rates and reducing packaging litter. Collaborating with ecoSPIRITS to pioneer waste and carbon emissions reduction in premium wines is a natural extension of Accolade’s broad commitment to environmental responsibility.
For its first collaboration with ecoSPIRITS, Accolade has selected its leading eco–wine brand, Banrock Station. Banrock Station produces premium South Australian wines with a passion for quality and holds a longstanding commitment to protecting the local environment. The Banrock Station vineyards and protected wetlands sit side-by-side along the meandering Murray River and South Australia’s Riverland. The winery’s environmental commitment is broad and sustained, having supported more than 130 conservation projects in 13 countries over the last 20 years. Banrock Station’s wines are sustainably produced, vegan friendly and already use lightweight bottles and recycled materials.
Banrock Station wines are made with the land and the environment in mind, having supported over 130 conservation projects
Initially, Banrock Station’s Pinot Grigio, Rosé and Pinot Noir wines will be offered in ecoTOTE 3.0W format to on-premise customers in Sydney, Australia. As part of the partnership, ecoSPIRITS and Accolade will collaborate on a study of the lifecycle reduction in single waste and carbon footprint associated with closed loop distribution of the Banrock Station wines. The partnership with ecoSPIRITS is one element of Accolade’s global sustainability strategy ‘Making Every Drop Count’, detailing a long-term action plan to create real change across the business, industry and planet.
Jeremy Moreau, Wine Lead, ecoSPIRITS
“The ecoSPIRITS closed loop network is now a global platform capable of processing volumes equivalent to more than 10 million single use bottles per year of wine and spirits. To be able to extend this platform to premium wines was a natural move. We have developed the new circular wine technology with both certified winemakers and the consumer in mind, meeting the highest material contact and wine preservation standards while also preserving the wine presentation and pouring experience we all enjoy. Gold standard preservation, lower unit costs, and a dramatic reduction in environmental footprint – all the benefits of circular, now for wine.”
Andrew Clarke, Managing Director, ANZ, Accolade Wines
“We are thrilled to partner with ecoSPIRITS and become the first wine business to launch this eco-revolutionary packaging to the Australian market. We know that consumers are increasingly conscious of the impact their choices are having on the environment. The new Banrock Station ecoTOTE will provide that environmentally friendly choice alongside the significant cost advantage. This strategic partnership is part of Accolade’s global sustainability journey. We are intent on continuing to innovate our entire supply chain to provide our customers with leading sustainable offerings. We look forward to seeing the roll out of the Banrock Station ecoTOTE in venues around Australia.”
Paul Gabie, CEO, ecoSPIRITS
“The development of ecoSPIRITS’ circular wine technology has been one of the most exciting projects in our history. Our solution blends extraordinary quality, reliable preservation and transformative cost and carbon footprint reduction – and leverages the ecoSPIRITS global closed loop network. Accolade Wines have been wonderful partners over months of planning and development. Their commitment to sustainability in packaging – and beyond – is genuine and of global impact. We are grateful for their trust in ecoSPIRITS as a technology and innovation partner.”
Additional information on the collaboration and the launch of closed loop wine service in Sydney will be released soon. Parties interested in learning more about ecoSPIRITS and our circular wine and spirits technologies can get in touch via [email protected]. For media inquiries regarding Accolade Wines and the Banrock Station, please reach out to Kate Harper, Dialogue Public Relations, via [email protected]. For bars, restaurants and hotels interested in participating in the new collaboration between ecoSPIRITS and Accolade Wines, please reach out to Derek Burden via [email protected] or [email protected].
About Accolade Wines
Headquartered in Australia, Accolade Wines draws on a proud heritage, with Houghton established in 1836 and the first grapes crushed at Hardys winery in 1857, to become a world-leading provider of luxury, premium, mainstream, and commercial wines. With three of the top 10 wine brands in the UK and two of the top 10 in Australia, Accolade’s rich and diverse portfolio is made up of distinguished wine brands including Hardys, St Hallett, Petaluma, Houghton, Grant Burge and Banrock Station and modern wine brands such as House of Arras, Echo Falls, Madam Sass and Jam Shed shaking up the global landscape.
Accolade is a fully integrated business, managing the entire supply chain from grape to glass. With more than 1400 employees in over 40 countries around the world, Accolade delivers approximately 276 million litres of wine to 130 countries every year. Accolade is committed to the sustainable growth of our business and the industry. Through our relentless innovation, global sustainability strategy, and the partners we engage with, we endeavour to have a positive impact on the industry and communities in which we operate.
For more information please visit https://www.accoladewines.com/
About Banrock Station Winery
Founded in 1995, Banrock Station’s mission is to do good and produce honest, great tasting wine that doesn’t cost the earth. Every drop of Banrock Station goes into conserving the planet. Over the last 25 years, Banrock have contributed to over 130 projects across 13 countries, starting with restoring their surrounding RAMSAR accredited wetlands in the Riverland; providing a haven for over 17,000 native plant, animal and threatened bird life. They have contributed over $6 million to conserving this planet! Banrock Station brings together a passion for conservation and wine to deliver an unforgettable experience where consumers can enjoy the same quality wine they expect from Banrock Station without compromising on their own sustainability efforts.
For more information please visit https://www.banrockstation.com.au/