We all think we’re doing the right thing putting our empty wine bottles in the recycling bin. But in the hierarchy of sustainability, “reuse” should come before “recycle”.

As I’ve written here before, bottling wine in glass can account for 50 per cent or more of that wine’s carbon footprint. This is why many in the industry are exploring more sustainable glass-free packaging innovations, from putting wine in cans and pouches to launching new cask brands. And why others are selling wine in reusable, returnable, refillable bottles.