If the cork industry is killed off, it’s likely companies will tear down the cork forests (home to native wildlife in Spain and Portugal), so keeping the cork industry thriving benefits all creatures. Look for bottles with real corks (not ‘resin’ that looks like corn). Although natural, corks are too tightly packed to break down, so recycle them (corks are choking hazards for pets/children). If you can’t find corked wine (or find it difficult to open the bottles), look for metal screw-caps (most councils accept tops in recycling waste bags).
You can recycle bottles at glass recycling banks (blue bottles can go in green banks) or some councils let you recycle at home. Most recycling facilities have a way to remove the labels.
HUN Wine produces vegan wine – in a can. Made with Fair Trade ingredients, this is available in Sauvignon Blanc, Rose and bubbly Rose.
Besa Mi Vino is another brand of organic vegan canned wine, which unlike conventional wines, is free from the average 70 chemicals (pesticides, food dyes and added sugar).
Secondly, look for brands that say ‘vegan‘ as these are free from filtering using bone char and fish bladders (be careful as even ‘ethical Co-op supermarket makes brands made with gelatine). The popular brand Blossom Hill also contains animal products. Proudly Vegan Wines offers wines with vegan-friendly labels too.
a better bottle of bubbly!
Wild Thing Organic Prosecco has soft apple and pear aromas, with a citrus palate. The bottle can be re-sealed and profits help Born Free Foundation, which helps animal welfare conservation worldwide. Belle & Co Alcohol-Free Sparkling White Wine is made with a bold infusion of fermented grape juice, carbonated water, glucose and green tea that bursts with flaour. Also in rose.
Read Wild Wine Making to make a selection of easy-to-create fruit and other wines. Recipes include: Blackberry Rhubarb, Blueberry Pear, Damson Plum, Cherry Rhubarb, Golden Raspberry, Spiced Peach, Dandelion, Elderflower, Lilac Flower, Rose Petal, Rosehip, Rosemary and Apple or Plum Champagne.
wine bottles with lower footprings
Frugal Bottle has a food-grade liner to keep liquids cool, but uses up to 77% less plastic, and is cheaper and five times lighter, with a water footprint 4 times lower than glass. Put the separated liner and bottle in recycling bins.
Recycled plastic clothing is not that great as it releases microplastics in the washing machine. So choosing other items to use up plastic waste is a good idea, and one way is to choose wine bottles made from it like Garçon Wines (Tempranilla has a deep purple colour with notes of cherry and berry) have easily recycled caps, and a flat design for easy transport. The bottle is designed with a ‘tip angle’ (same as the Leaning Tower of Pisa) so empty bottles remain stable, even if accidentally knocked (good if you like red wine, but have a cream carpet!)
Although glass is inert, the carbon footprint of making the bottle then shipping it round the world is immense (around 33 billion are made each year, just for wine). And smashed glass causes injury to wildlife. Neither the shapeor material of this bottle affects the taste, although it can’t be used to house sparkling wine.
