Plastic Bottle with Glass - An Alternative for Wine? - German Startup Unveils Eco-Friendly Wine Bottle to Slash Carbon Footprint

A German startup has launched a new type of wine bottle designed to cut carbon emissions and waste. The bottles, made from recycled plastic with a thin glass lining, aim to offer a sustainable alternative to traditional glass packaging. Behind the innovation is 29-year-old Janina Krick, who co-founded the company with her father.

Glass bottles contribute nearly half of the wine industry's production-related CO₂ emissions, according to researchers at Weincampus. To tackle this, Krick developed a lightweight bottle using 100% recycled plastic, coated inside with a microscopic glass layer. This design preserves wine quality and aroma while slashing weight and transport emissions.

The bottles, sold under the brand weinton/WNTN GmbH, went on sale online in mid-December. The company plans to produce around 150,000 in its first year, with a goal to quadruple output annually. Consumers can return empty bottles via reverse vending machines for a 25-cent deposit, mirroring systems used for other drink containers.

Reusable wine bottles have struggled to gain traction in the past due to logistical hurdles. Issues like inconsistent standards, storage demands, and cleaning complexities have held back wider adoption. To expand options, Krick will introduce a smaller 187-millilitre 'tasting bottle' in July, ideal for single servings or sampling.

The project began when Krick and her father, Jörg Krick, partnered with a specialist using advanced techniques to bond glass to plastic. Their approach ensures the wine stays fresh while keeping the packaging fully recyclable.

The new bottles offer a lighter, lower-carbon option for wine packaging. With online sales underway and a smaller format launching soon, the company aims to scale production rapidly. Available data does not indicate how many other German wineries may follow suit or which regions could lead in adoption.