We’ve been weaning ourselves off of plastic water bottles for the better part of a year now.
Whereas we once sipped our way through a couple dozen bottles per week, now we’re toting portable mugs, and drinking out of plastic bottles only on rare occasions.
Many of the water companies have taken note of the shift in public opinion over plastic bottles — and the damage they can do to the environment — and taken steps to lessen their impact.
Go to the grocery store, and you’ll likely find several brands with package verbiage such as, “Made from 50% less plastic.”
We certainly applaud those types of efforts, but we must note that it can be very frustrating opening some of those bottles. It’s nearly impossible to break the seal without spilling a small puddle of water. Less plastic apparently equates with more “give,” so as we unscrew the top with one hand, we’re squeezing the bottle with the other — and pushing water out the top.
We’re hoping the same type of thing won’t happen as wine bottles inevitably move toward more environmentally friendly packaging.
A good test will take place early next year in the United Kingdom, when the first wines bottled in new, lightweight glass bottles are expected to hit the marketplace.
U.K. bottling specialist Kingsland is developing the new bottles, which will weigh in at a fit and trim 300 grams. The average weight of a wine bottle is around 500 grams.
Will these new bottles pass the squeeze test? We hope so.
After all, losing a few drops of water is one thing. Losing a few drops of wine is quite another!
