Brand and packaging rethink needed as convenience and sustainability trends accelerate

A major shift in the way alcoholic drinks are packaged, dispensed and branded may well be here to stay in the wake of the pandemic.

Q&A: Rowena Curlewis, CEO & co-founder, Denomination

Designer Rowena Curlewis talks trends and packaging design in a post-pandemic world. Andrew Catchpole tunes in.

Change of pace: How Covid/climate pressures are accelerating innovation of packaging and design

With drinks fast evolving to meet consumer trends, design and packaging has an ever more important role in communicating change, writes Andrew Catchpole

Drinks trade ranks poorly on new sustainability index

The drinks industry is lagging behind other business sectors in its approach to sustainability, according to a new report published today.

Wine’s darker materials: glass vs the alternatives

A rising clamour over packaging and sustainability is leading many parts of the industry to go back to the drawing board on glass and look at alternative materials. Does plastic deserve its bad reputation?

Serving up sustainability

Sustainability encompasses myriad aspects of business and production. These range from the big-ticket environmental and carbon-emission concerns – seeking to mitigate and adapt in the face of now-rapid climate change – to the socio-economic, whereby workers and employees are offered a fairer deal, including aspects of pay, work conditions, education and advancement.

Trade should stop bottling it on carbon emissions

Bottling and packaging play by far the largest role in the green house gas (GHG) emissions generated by the production and distribution of a wine, contributing 42% of the total carbon footprint, delivering a clear ‘innovation challenge’ for the trade if it is to fully join the march towards greater sustainability.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Your wine probably does not exist

“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?”

Gap in recycling offers huge opportunity for brand owners and retailers

Concerns over health and safety are hampering the use of recycled materials in food in drink, new research has suggested.

Portman group tackles ‘offensive marketing’ in sixth code of practice

UK alcohol regulator the Portman Group has updated its packaging and promotional guidance for society’s evolving standards, including a new rule around ‘offence’.

Harpers Design Awards 2018: The winners

Good design may only sell the one, first bottle if the liquid inside is discovered to be below par. But present the most sublime booze in a mediocre or off-putting package and the painstaking craft of the distiller or winemaker is likely to be left collecting dust.

Premium and new formats offer big opportunities for bulk wine market

With the global 2018 harvests bringing the world’s wine supply back into greater balance, the market is evolving to allow greater fluidity in supply, to the benefit of premium bulk players and smaller volume buyers, with differing formats cited as key to future consumer engagement and sales.

Innovation essential if wine to curb falling consumer base

The last major innovation in the wine category was the screwcap – first introduced a couple of decades ago - and the category is going to have to seriously pick up the pace if it is to stay relevant to today’s consumer.

LWF: Lanchester launches Italian duo to challenge conventional packaging

Lanchester Wines unveiled a premium Italian wine duo today at the London Wine Fair (LWF).

Power to the Punter

Technology is fast empowering the consumer when it comes to engagement, purchasing decisions, driving innovation and shaping the market, with accessible gadgets, widgets, apps and other advances changing the way wine is shipped, sold, delivered and even drunk. 

Wine Intelligence highlights alternative format trends

The Pack Outsider

Wine is thinking inside the box again when it comes to new formats, recognising that consumers want both smaller and more sharing possibilities. By Lisa Riley

Design Wars

As the battle for shelf standout continues apace, Lisa Riley quizzes the experts on what matters most

Digital packaging: how smart is your bottle?

The impact of digitisation is so powerful that most marketers and brand designers are only just grasping the need for a more holistic approach, writes James Harmer of Touch design and innovation agency

Innovation: Moving on up

Jo Gilbert asks if wine will ever have its Brewdog moment