Coles Liquor joins Sustainable Wine Roundtable Bottle Weight Accord

The Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) has announced two of the latest signatories to its Bottle Weight Accord (BWA) for still wine as it marks the second anniversary of its creation.

Australian drink retailer Coles Liquor, with its network of over 900 Liquorland stores, and Australian winery Wirra Wirra are the newest names to commit to lowering the average bottle weight of their wine ranges to 420 g per 75 cl bottle. 

Shae Courtney, National Quality & Sustainability Manager at Coles Liquor, said: “Joining the Bottle Weight Accord reflects Coles Liquor’s broader commitment to packaging sustainability through innovation and collaboration with industry partners. It also recognises the progress we have made on the packaging of our portfolio of fabulous wines — and last financial year we reached a milestone of having 98.7% of Coles Liquor Own Brand primary packaging being recyclable, reusable or compostable.

“By committing to lighter bottle designs, we aim to reduce packaging material and lower emissions from transport. We also want to support industry more broadly by encouraging continued investment in the design, use and recovery of packaging across the liquor industry.”

Luke Tyler, Sales & Marketing Director for Wirra Wirra, said: “We’re proud to join the Bottle Weight Accord as part of our ongoing commitment to reducing environmental impact. While eager to learn from others, we also look forward to sharing our own insights. We’ve recently introduced a new lightweight proprietary bottle (410 g) without compromising its iconic design that will start appearing in fellow BWA participants’ stores in time for Christmas this year.”

This follows another lightweighting project collaboration on a Liquorland-exclusive Wirra Wirra McLaren Vale Vineyards Shiraz.

The SWR plans to unveil of a similar bottle weight accord aimed at producers and retailers of sparkling wines later this year.