One of the UK’s most innovative packaging designs of recent years has received an unexpected boost during the Coronavirus pandemic.
British start-up Garçon Wines created the world’s first ‘flat’ wine bottle for the purpose of increasing sustainability but, with UK delivery services soaring during lockdown, the product’s sleek design – which can fit through a letterbox in packaging – has seen it prove a winner with wine drinkers across the country.
The award-winning, climate-friendly product was designed to save energy whilst reducing carbon emissions and logistics costs, but now punters keen to maintain social distancing have taken the opportunity to get wine delivered without even having to see a delivery person.
“We invented a flat wine bottle that would fit through most UK letterboxes and was lightweight, strong and eco-friendly,” Garçon Wines chief executive and co-founder Santiago Navarro told The Guardian.
“Today we have a very different situation, where letterbox wine is in higher demand than ever. An invention created for convenience and sustainability has turned into a product wanted during this pandemic for continuity and safety.”
The lightweight, flat wine bottles, made entirely of 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET), are just 4cm deep, whilst standing only 2cm taller than a regular, round 75cl bottle.
Each bottle is approximately 87% lighter than an average glass wine bottle, meaning it saves energy, whilst its flat design allows more efficient packing and space-saving during transportation, thus further reducing its carbon footprint and logistics costs.
The London-based company is going from strength to strength, having recently expanded their range – already in Europe – into the United States, whilst also picking up the Award for Innovation at ITV’s inaugural Food & Drink Awards in February.
The award follows on from a hugely successful 2019, which saw them win Best Packaging Design at the World Beverage Innovation Awards, along with a joint first place in the Innovation of the Year category at the Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards.
Image courtesy of Garçon Wines.
