As consumer demand for sustainable products continues to reshape the wine industry, a longtime packaging distributor is helping wineries meet the moment with greener, American-made glass solutions.
Waterloo Container, a family-owned business serving the wine and craft beverage sectors for 45 years, is offering eco-glass bottles that are fully recyclable and lighter in weight. The move comes as wineries confront an industry-wide slowdown in purchasing and seek to appeal to environmentally conscious younger buyers.
“Wineries tell us they’re seeing this trend as more consumers buy sustainable wines,” said Mark Pitifer, Marketing & Communications Administrator at Waterloo Container. “Wineries also say they want to help keep the glass out of landfills.”
Waterloo’s lightweight bottles, manufactured in the United States, come with the added advantage of reduced transportation, energy, and labor costs. The company says its eco-glass options provide peace of mind when tariffs are a concern and help cut down on the carbon footprint of wine packaging.
President and Owner Bill Lutz called the work “a part of something bigger than yourself,” crediting partnerships with industry suppliers like Ardagh Glass, Amcor Stelvin, and M.A. Silva Corks. Those relationships have fueled Waterloo’s growth and its ability to supply packaging that has a meaningful environmental impact.
In recognition of their sustainability efforts, M.A. Silva awarded Waterloo Container a “green certificate” for protecting 60 acres of forest. “We share cultural, systemic and environmental values that have allowed us to grow into close business and personal partners,” said Gustavo Beltran, VP of Operations at M.A. Silva.
With a large warehouse inventory and customers in over 30 countries, Waterloo Container remains a key player in ensuring steady supply chains. “We first forecast future needs with our customers to ensure they never have a hiccup,” said Pitifer. “We take pride in the fact that our customers can pull what they need from us when they need it.”
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