SIG has launched Australia’s first recycle-ready bag-in-box packaging for wine, developed and manufactured at its Adelaide facility in partnership with leading Australian wine producers. Pictured Jason Spiteri, Executive Director – Wine at Hill Smith Family Estates and Carmen Houston, ANZ Head of Marketing & Sustainability at SIG/Courtesy of SIG
SIG, a global leader in food and beverage packaging solutions, has partnered with leading Australian wine producers to introduce a recycle-ready bag-in-box for wine, developed and manufactured at its Adelaide facility.
The launch builds on SIG’s long track record of bag-in-box innovation and follows the debut of Australia’s first recycle-ready bag for water in 2024, marking another step forward in SIG’s ambition to build a regenerative food packaging system.
The bag is made of SIG Terra RecShield, a mono-material film with a uniquely formulated polymer structure, replacing the conventional multi-layer film that contains aluminum. This means that every component of the bag-in-box, including the bag, tap, and carton, is now recycle-ready.
This development supports the Australian 2025 National Packaging Targets and meets the Sustainable Packaging Guidelines of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO).
SIG’s Adelaide-based Research and Development team has also introduced the country’s first locally manufactured wine tap made from light grey polymers that allow it to be easily detected by optical sorters at Australian recycling facilities, improving plastic separation and supports higher-quality recycled output.
When assessed through APCO’s Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal (PREP), the complete pack receives a “Check Locally” classification by the Australian Recycling Label, guiding consumers to kerbside recycling where facilities exist or alternative drop-off points, such as supermarkets or council collection centres.
The integrity and performance of the recycle-ready bag-in-box wine packaging has been validated through extensive shelf-life tests and transport trials with SIG’s development partners Hill-Smith Family Estates, Vinarchy, DeBortoli Wines and Calabria Family Wines.
Carmen Houston, ANZ Head of Marketing & Sustainability at SIG: “SIG has been at the forefront of bag-in-box packaging globally, and this product continues our commitment to innovation and leadership in sustainable packaging solutions for our customers, consumers, and the planet.
Working with APCO and our winery partners, we are bringing a recycle-ready solution to market that fits Australian recycling infrastructure while maintaining wine quality through the supply chain.”
Bag-in-box wine already offers recognized advantages over glass bottles, including lower transport emissions, efficient storage, and extended freshness once opened by limiting light and oxygen exposure*. Removing the aluminum layer reduces the pack’s carbon footprint and simplifies material recovery.
Jason Spiteri, Executive Director – Wine at Hill Smith Family Estates: “Winesmiths, a proudly owned brand of Hill-Smith Family Estates, has led the varietal bag-in-box wine category in Australia for more than 40 years.
We’re pleased to continue that legacy of innovation with this Australian-first, recycle-ready bag-in-box packaging from SIG. From the beginning, this has been a true partnership built on shared sustainability values, mutual trust, and a joint ambition to innovate. SIG brought deep technical expertise to the table, while respecting and drawing on our long-standing knowledge of the wine-on-tap category.
We are proud to bring this important step forward in packaging to Australian shelves early in 2026.”
SIG’s Australian Research & Development team continues to explore ways to lower the environmental impact of flexible packaging, with additional recycle-ready solutions for other beverage and food service applications under development.
*https://go.sig.biz/l/251992/2024-12-23/7rqxv3/251992/1734941467zyEKh3Ff/SIG_DuraShield_Laminate_34AL_with_SIG_CellarTap_for_SIG_3L_Bag_in_Box.pdf 3
About SIG
SIG is a leading solutions provider of packaging for better – better for our customers, for consumers, and for the world. With our unique portfolio of aseptic carton, bag-in-box, and spouted pouch, we work in partnership with our customers to bring food and beverage products to consumers around the world in a safe, sustainable, and affordable way. Our technology and outstanding innovation capabilities enable us to provide our customers with end-to-end solutions for differentiated products, smarter factories, and connected packs, all to address the ever-changing needs of consumers. Sustainability is integral to our business, and we strive to create a regenerative food packaging system.
Founded in 1853, SIG is headquartered in Neuhausen, Switzerland, and listed at the SIX Swiss Exchange. The skills and experience of our approximately 9,600 employees worldwide enable us to respond quickly and effectively to the needs of our customers in over 100 countries. In 2024, SIG produced 57 billion packs and generated €3.3 billion in revenue. SIG also has an AAA ESG rating by MSCI, a Platinum CSR rating by EcoVadis, and is included in the FTSE4Good Index. For more information, visit www.sig.biz
