Sustainable Wine Packaging

Why Simple EVA Swaps Fail

Swapping EVA for a recycled material and changing nothing else is the common mistake. Paper-based inserts have less rebound and lower surface precision than EVA, so the structure has to compensate. A bottle needs neck capture, base support, four-point contact and angled location. Get the structure right and the material gap matters much less.

Materials That Work for Wine

Moulded pulp is the most mature paper option for wine. It offers adequate shock absorption and load capacity, is recyclable, and requires tooling. For foldable and higher-volume export work, honeycomb and multi-layer corrugated at three plies or more suit the job well. We apply these in wooden and rigid board designs.

Paper-based composites suit lighter bottles and gift combinations, but they rebound less than EVA and need extra wrapping structure. We do not recommend them for champagne. If the bottle has more weight or pressure, the insert must hold the neck, base and sides at four points without relying on the material alone.

Materials to Avoid for Shipping

We do not recommend single-ply paper trays. They carry too little load. Low-density recycled stock collapses under bottle weight. Soft fibre wadding gives poor bottle location, so the bottle can move in transit. Untreated materials without moisture resistance are a risk for sea freight. We flag these early in the design conversation.

Premium Feel Without Plastic Trays

Premium feel comes from texture, not plastic. Linen-finish stock, matt lamination, embossing and restrained foil read as more considered than a plastic tray. This matters most for collector gifting and retail display. Pair a paper insert with a textured facing and the box feels deliberate, not cheap.

Send your bottle sample or box dimensions with a reference design and we will quote a paper insert and box structure that holds the bottle at four points. Get a Quote