Plastic-free wine range to be launched in Scotland will help marine life

Whether it’s a mellow red or a crisp white, wine drinkers can now enjoy a glass of their favourite tipple while protecting the environment.

Sea Change wines: Pic: Toby Hancock.

Sea Change is a new brand of earth-friendly wines which are entirely plastic-free.

The range has been designed with minimal packaging to reduce potential waste and maximise its eco credentials.

The labels are made of 15 per cent recycled grape waste with the remaining raw materials coming from sustainable forests.

Sad image of a puffin with a mouthful of rubbish.Pic: Marion McMurdo/Solent News/REX/Shutterstock

The corks are made from renewable plant-based polymers and are fully recyclable.

No capsule covers, the wrapping over the cork or cap, are used on the wine to do away with unnecessary packaging and make recycling easier.

As well as that, cash from every bottle sold goes directly to charities working to protect marine life and battle plastic pollution.

In the UK, donations will be made to two environmental charities – Sea-Changers and Plastic Oceans UK.

sea change wine

The new range is the brainchild of family-run firm 10 International, a socially conscious UK-based wine business that sells more than ten million bottles around the world.

Toby Hancock, co-founder and director of 10 International, said: “The problem of plastic pollution is something the wine trade needs to wake up to. Now we are all reading about it on a daily basis. Hundreds of millions, if not billions, of totally unrecyclable plastic capsules are being taken off bottles of wine and discarded.

“The majority of capsules are plastic or have plastic in them. Only on the most expensive wines are they made of pure metal and therefore biodegradable.

“These plastic capsules go straight to landfill, or worse, into the oceans.”

sea change wine

The wines, a negroamaro and a chardonnay from the Puglia region of southern Italy, are being launched in Scotland at a special event in South Queensferry later this month, involving a beach clean and private tasting.

Hancock added: “Scotland is known for its amazing coastline. But unfortunately there isn’t a place in the world that isn’t affected by plastic pollution and all the oceans and beaches are connected so even rubbish coming from the other side of the Atlantic can end up on the beaches of Scotland.

“The fact is, we’re all in it together.”

“It’s good that Scottish drinkers can make a conscious choice to drink wine and not add to the plastic pollution.”

Toby Hancock.

The wines come from sustainable vineyards and will be distributed across the UK by Scottish wine merchant Inverarity Morton.

Toby Sigouin, wine buyer for the firm, is enthusiastic about the Sea Change ethos.

“When I first caught wind of this project I immediately signalled it as something we wanted to back,” he said.

“It is such a well-considered, well-judged proposition in the face of a very real environmental crisis.

“The statistics on plastic pollution in our seas is alarming and these wines, which are excellent quality at a very affordable price point, will help stimulate both conversation and action.

“We intend to do justice to this great cause.”

The wines, which are being unveiled on 19 February, are currently only available by the case directly from Inverarity Morton, but will be stocked at selected bars and restaurants and off-sales outlets at a later date.