A reuse hub for bottles of wines from France

ombining ten regional bottle recyclers* in a bid to harmonise and pool their practices, the France Consigne network is certainly not lacking in ambition and good intentions. In fact, its aim is to mark a turning point in national management of glass packaging with the end of single use bottles in its sights. Officialised on 30 January at the Millésime Bio trade fair in Montpellier, the group claims that it has “one objective, which is that reuse should be the topic of 2023”, said Clémence Richeux, the coordinator of Ma Bouteille S'appelle Reviens in the Rhone Valley. With the environmental challenge of reducing carbon footprint and unprecedented pressure on supplies upping the economic ante throughout 2022, France Consigne believes reusing bottles will become inevitable in 2023.

The first reason for this is the need to stay ahead of regulations, and comply with a law issued on 10 February 2020 to combat waste and promote the circular economy (AGEC law), which sets a packaging reuse target of 5% in 2023 and 10% in 2027. The second reason is to reduce the pressure on bottles, and stabilise both prices and supplies. The third reason for reuse is the reduction in waste and fostering a positive environmental impact compared to recycling. As it sets out to realise its national ambitions, France Consigne has also established initial contacts with the European association New Reused Alliance to consider setting up an international network. “We dream that in two or three years there will be a European reuse market. Europe Consigne”, says Richeux. Further work will focus on sparkling wines, such as Champagnes, as the current solution only deals with still wines.

* These are Alpes Consignes, Bout à Bout, Consign’Up, Haut la Consigne, J’aime mes bouteilles, La Consigne de Provence, L’Incassable, Ma Bouteille S’appelle Reviens, Oc’Consigne and Rebooteille.