Styrofoam or cardboard for direct shipments?

Wines & Vines, Sept, 2006 by Larry Walker

On the cost side of the equation, the prices of the cardboard containers and Styrofoam are about equal, although Styrofoam has been going up recently because of the increase in petroleum prices.

With wine clubs becoming more and more important, and with the growth in direct-to-consumer shipping (see box on the previous page), the choice of the right shipping package could be critical.

RELATED ARTICLE: HIGHLIGHTS

* The choice of shipper has become a more and more important decision as direct-to-consumer sales soar.

* The first duty of the direct-to-consumer package, commonly called a "shipper," is that the wine arrives safely. Second, it should also look good, with no scuffed labels.

* Currently, Styrofoam and cardboard are the major materials used for shipping.

* Many wineries prefer molded cardboard, because it is recyclable.

RELATED ARTICLE: The Recycling Issue

Whether a shipping package can be recycled was a key issue for most everyone we spoke to, and on that issue, molded cardboard seems to be the clear choice, at least for now. Styrofoam can be recycled, but certainly not as easily as cardboard. Many local governments are moving to ban some forms of Styrofoam because of recycling issues. San Francisco is one of those communities. A spokesperson for San Francisco's Environmental Affairs department said that although there are a few Styrofoam recycling centers, she does not consider Styrofoam recyclable in any "meaningful way."

L.W.

RELATED ARTICLE: Wine, The Panacea

Wine, along with aspirin and green vegetables, may delay the onset of age-related deafness and reduce hearing loss from antibiotics and loud noise, according to a report in the British journal, New Scientist. The theory is related to the effects of antioxidants on hair cells within the inner ear.

Moderate consumption of wine or beer may also benefit women with Type II diabetes, by increasing insulin resistance.

Shipper Packaging Resource List

California Glass (A Saxco Co.)

Oakland, CA

(510) 635-7700

calglass-pcc.com

Encore!

Richmond, CA

(510) 234-5670

encoreglass.com

Enviropak

St. Louis, MO

(314) 739-1202

enviropak.com

Frontier Packaging

Tukwila, WA

(206) 575-7772

frontierpackaging.com

Henry Molded Products, Inc.

Lebanon, PA

(717) 273-3714

henry-molded.com

Keyes Fibre Corp.

Wenatchee, WA

(509) 663-8537

keyesfibre.com

Packaging Arts, Inc.

Mare Island, CA

(707) 562-2787

packagingarts.com

RTS Packaging, LLC

Merced, CA

(209) 722-2787

rtspackaging.com

Seaside Paper Products, Ltd.

Delta, BC, Canada

(604) 930-2700

seasidepaper.com

ThermoSafe Brands

Arlington Heights, IL

(847) 398-0110

thermosafe.com