South Australia’s Nepenthe Wines is raising the bar on sustainable packaging with a smart, simple innovation featuring a fully recyclable tearaway cap across all its still wines. As a certified B Corp and proud member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, Nepenthe knows that small changes can drive big impact. The new cap design lets consumers easily separate aluminium from glass, boosting recycling rates and keeping valuable materials out of landfills.
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Following three months of rigorous testing to ensure product quality and storage standards, Nepenthe Wines has now introduced fully removable aluminium tearaway capsules across all its still wines. The change, timed to coincide with World Environment Day on 5 June 2025, marks a permanent shift in the winery’s packaging approach.
“With something like aluminium, the recycling potential is enormous, but only if it’s sorted properly. By making the cap fully removable and guiding people on what to do, we’re making the sustainable choice the easy one,” said Tamar Bourke, Senior Brand Manager at Nepenthe.
The idea took root after a 2023 life cycle analysis flagged packaging as a major opportunity for environmental gains. Building on earlier efforts like lighter bottles and recycled paper labels, Nepenthe joined forces with capsule supplier Interpack to launch the CAPR tearaway system, an easy-to-use solution with lasting sustainability benefits.
The innovative new closure features a clever split-design capsule that peels away effortlessly from the glass bottle without compromising the wine’s seal. To make the recycling process successful, each cap comes with clear, on-cap instructions, guiding consumers every step of the way.
Unlike traditional wine sleeves, which often slip through the cracks in the recycling process due to poor separation, this smart design ensures the aluminium, an endlessly recyclable material, actually makes it back into the loop instead of ending up in a landfill.
With around 75 per cent of all aluminium ever produced still in circulation, proper sorting is key to unlocking its full environmental value. However, many Australians are unaware that wine closures can impact the recyclability of the entire bottle.
This move is part of Nepenthe’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. The winery has already transitioned to lighter bottles for its Altitude and Elevation ranges and adopted labels made entirely from recycled materials. For its premium APEX line, Nepenthe is also exploring bottles made with 100 per cent recycled glass. However, sourcing remains a hurdle in Australia, where most suppliers currently offer only 70–90 per cent recycled content.
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