Polyoak launches South Africa’s first Eco-Flat Wine Bottle to cut carbon emissions and transport costs
Developed with Packamama, Safripol and Stellenbosch Vineyards, the recycled PET bottle improves supply chain efficiency, reduces carbon emissions and supports South Africa’s circular economy.
POLYOAK Packaging, in partnership with Packamama, Safripol and Stellenbosch Vineyards, has introduced the novel Eco-Flat Wine Bottle to the South African wine market, offering a lightweight and space-efficient packaging format designed to support sustainability targets and improve supply chain efficiency for wine producers.
Eco-flat bottle weighs up to 80% less than glass
Manufactured locally by Polypet, part of Polyoak Packaging, the 750ml Eco-Flat Wine Bottle is produced using Packamama’s patented flat-bottle design and weighs just 63 grams, making it up to 80% lighter than a traditional glass wine bottle. The reduced weight and distinctive flat profile enable significant efficiencies in transport and storage, helping producers to lower logistics costs while reducing associated carbon emissions.
Recycled PET content supports circular economy goals
The bottle is produced using AspireR25, a recycled PET (rPET) resin developed by Safripol. AspireR25 contains 25% locally sourced post-consumer rPET, collected and recycled in South Africa and converted into premium-grade material for wine bottles. The bottle is converted at Polyoak’s world-class manufacturing facility in Cape Town, ensuring consistent quality and reliable supply for the wine industry.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) data for PET bottles clearly demonstrates that replacing virgin PET with recycled PET delivers substantial environmental benefits across key impact categories, including reductions in carbon emissions, energy consumption and resource use. By incorporating post-consumer recycled content, the Eco-Flat Wine Bottle contributes to a more circular packaging solution, whilst supporting the broader sustainability goals of the wine sector.
Local manufacturing strengthens South Africa’s recycling value chain
Importantly, the utilisation of locally sourced recycled material also actively sustains local jobs by creating market demand for post-consumer resin, strengthening South Africa’s recycling value chain and supporting the development of a circular plastics economy.
The Eco-Flat Wine Bottle is available in dead leaf green and colourless formats and can be paired with a range of closure colours, offering flexibility for producers across different wine styles and brand portfolios. An integrated oxygen barrier provides a shelf life of up to 24 months, making the format well suited to all still wines produced for easy drinking.
The flat bottle format also delivers measurable supply chain efficiencies. The design allows bottles to be cross-packed and flat-packed, improving space utilisation throughout distribution. Compared with traditional glass bottles, the format is up to 40% more space-efficient per pallet, enabling greater transport density and reducing the overall carbon footprint of wine shipments.
Sales Executive for Polyoak Packaging, Roger Kerr notes that the introduction of the Eco-Flat Wine Bottle represents an important step for the industry. “The wine sector is under increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact while maintaining product quality and brand integrity. By combining recycled materials with a more efficient bottle design, the Eco-Flat Wine Bottle provides producers with a practical packaging solution that delivers both sustainability and operational advantages.”
Designed for modern wine distribution and export markets
The innovation has already received industry recognition, with Polyoak Packaging being a nominee in the Western Cape Economy Innovation Awards, hosted by the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This acknowledgement highlights the role of the Eco-Flat Wine Bottle in advancing sustainable packaging innovation while boosting the competitiveness of South African wine producers.
With global markets increasingly focused on carbon reduction and responsible packaging, the Eco-Flat Wine Bottle provides the South African wine industry with a scalable, locally produced packaging alternative that aligns with evolving trade requirements while strengthening the country’s circular economy.
For further information, contact Michelle Penlington, National Executive: Marketing and Sustainability at Polyoak Packaging on +27 21 7109200. Visit www.polyoakpackaging.co.za
