Founded in 2021 by Adam Rack and Keenan O’Hern, Revino aims to reduce the carbon footprint of wine by offering refillable bottles. The company will collect, wash, and redistribute their proprietary bottle that is designed to last up to 50 fills. Starting in Oregon and using the Oregon BottleDrop collection sites to streamline the process for the wine consumers, their aim is national.
Bottle design by Revino; Image copyright Revino; Used with permission.
The company notes in their press release that over 16 billion glass bottles and containers are used annually, but less than 30% are recycled. The average glass wine bottle takes 1.28 kg of CO2 to produce and dispose of and is most often sourced internationally. Alternatives like cans, Tetra Paks, and bag in box do not offer the cellaring capabilities or unique presentation of a 750ml glass bottle. Recycling itself is not without carbon impacts: it takes significant amounts of energy to melt the glass down so it can be reshaped into a new product.
By offering reusable containers with an efficient distribution and collection network, the carbon impacts are significantly reduced. Revino states that it will take only three cycles for their bottles to “break even on carbon emissions.”
Bottles are launching in the spring of 2024, though interested wineries can sign up for the program now on their website. Interested end consumers can check out the list of participating wineries here and keep an eye out on shelves for bottles stamped “REFILLABLE.” The initial phase is intended for sales and consumption within Oregon, so out of state consumers wishing to participate are encouraged to talk with the winery regarding returning empty bottles.
*Please note, this post was not sponsored and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as an endorsement.
