Revino has launched an end-to-end refillable glass bottle reuse system for the wine industry in Oregon, US.

Revino provides wine bottle reclamation and sanitation services to Oregon wine producers.

The United States does not yet have refillable infrastructure, despite 16.2 billion glass food and beverage containers being shipped to US producers in 2022 alone.

Glass bottle production is the most carbon-heavy element of the wine industry, with a single glass bottle generating an estimated 1.28 kg of CO2.

Consequently, the heart of Revino’s refillable system lies in its RGBs (Returnable Glass Bottles).

These are designed to be reused multiple times without compromising quality or integrity.

Its bottles offer emissions reductions of up to 85% compared to single use bottles and can be refilled up to 50 times, breaking even on carbon emissions after the third reuse.

Keenan O’Hern, Co-Founder of Revino, said: “Revino’s vision is to revolutionise the wine industry by offering a seamless and environmentally friendly alternative to the conventional ‘single-use’ mindset.

“We are proud to introduce our end-to-end refillable glass bottle reuse system, addressing the pressing need for sustainability in the wine sector.

“Our innovative RGBs will enable wineries to embrace circular economy principles, significantly reducing their carbon footprint and contributing to a healthier planet for future generations.”

Revino’s RGBs are designed to repeat the sales and distribution process, mirroring the experience of new bottles while substantially reducing environmental impact.

By providing a closed-loop system that keeps bottles in circulation, Revino supports the wine industry’s drive towards lower emissions and a more circular and sustainable model.

Revino will purchase 2.4 million RGBs with the intention to supply more than 30 wineries with reusable bottles for their 2024 bottlings.

Consumers will be able to identify the refillable bottle by its unique design and the word “refillable” embossed around the base (see left).

RGBs can be returned to one of Revino’s partner wineries or return locations so they can be sorted and cleaned at the company’s sanitation facility, set to be constructed in Q3 2024.

Once sanitised, they will be returned to winery partners for reuse.

Revino is working in partnership with local and statewide legislators and non-governmental organisations to lower the barriers to the widespread adoption of glass bottle reuse.

The business is also working side by side with the wine community, exemplified by more than 70 wineries contributing to the design for the refillable bottle mould.