Alentejo Wine Industry Diverts 14 Tons of Label Waste With World’s First Recycled Shipping Box

In the Alentejo region of Portugal, a new project is changing the way wine producers handle waste from their labeling process. Until recently, the adhesive backing from wine bottle labels, known as label liner, had no practical use and was sent to landfills. Now, thanks to a partnership between the Alentejo Regional Winegrowing Commission (CVRA) and the company Partícula Verde, this material is being recycled to create an innovative wine shipping box called Re:Boxed.

The CVRA announced that this initiative is the first of its kind worldwide and involves the entire Alentejo region. The project was presented to the public in London at the Sustainability In Drinks event, where it drew attention for its focus on circular economy practices. The new shipping box is made by recycling the siliconized paper used in wine label liners, which is then processed into raw material for the paper industry. This approach prevents hundreds of tons of waste from ending up in landfills or being incinerated.

Since the beginning of this year, the project has already diverted 14 tons of label liner from disposal. The CVRA aims to offer Alentejo wine producers an exclusive packaging option for both domestic and international shipping, including online sales, wine tourism, and wine competitions. According to João Barroso, Director of Sustainable Development and R&D at Vinhos do Alentejo, if all the adhesive liners used on Alentejo wine bottles last year were laid end to end, they would stretch 20,000 kilometers—the distance from Alentejo to New Zealand.

Before the launch of Re:Boxed, these liners were typically sent to landfills or burned. Now, they are transformed into packaging, creating value and supporting a true circular economy. The project is part of the Alentejo Wines Sustainability Program (PSVA), which has positioned the region as a leader in sustainable wine production since 2015. The program currently includes more than 700 members, representing about 63 percent of Alentejo’s vineyard area, and 27 producers certified with an internationally recognized sustainable production seal.

The introduction of the new shipping box addresses a need identified by the CVRA and marks another step toward sustainability in the wine sector. The organization considers Partícula Verde a key partner in promoting circular practices. The CVRA believes this initiative strengthens Alentejo’s reputation for sustainability and resilience in the face of climate challenges, positioning the region as an international example in sustainable wine production.