Comments on: Poll: Styrofoam or cardboard for your wine shipping? http://www.drvino.com/2008/04/22/poll-styrofoam-or-cardboard-for-your-wine-shipping/ wine talk that goes down easy Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:56:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Gabriella Opaz http://www.drvino.com/2008/04/22/poll-styrofoam-or-cardboard-for-your-wine-shipping/#comment-91672 Gabriella Opaz Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:04:36 +0000 http://www.drvino.com/?p=1667#comment-91672 While I look out over a sea of styrofoam containers sitting in my livingroom, unable to be recycled by my town in Spain, I'm sad. I would much prefer to receive my bottles in a mound of edible popcorn, rice cakes or even popped wheat than styrofoam! Obviously, I realize that protecting the wine is key, but I have to imagine in 2008, we can be more creative than this. While I look out over a sea of styrofoam containers sitting in my livingroom, unable to be recycled by my town in Spain, I’m sad. I would much prefer to receive my bottles in a mound of edible popcorn, rice cakes or even popped wheat than styrofoam! Obviously, I realize that protecting the wine is key, but I have to imagine in 2008, we can be more creative than this.

]]> By: Arthur http://www.drvino.com/2008/04/22/poll-styrofoam-or-cardboard-for-your-wine-shipping/#comment-91302 Arthur Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:36:59 +0000 http://www.drvino.com/?p=1667#comment-91302 Tyler, How does creating a fleet of climate controlled wine delivery vans impact the environment? Tyler,

How does creating a fleet of climate controlled wine delivery vans impact the environment?

]]> By: Rich http://www.drvino.com/2008/04/22/poll-styrofoam-or-cardboard-for-your-wine-shipping/#comment-91299 Rich Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:16:25 +0000 http://www.drvino.com/?p=1667#comment-91299 I've received a lot of cardboard packing and never received a broken or damaged bottle. I guess using soil as the packing material would be too heavy. Maybe popcorn (particularly the caramel corn variety) would work well. Might be an insulator, too. I’ve received a lot of cardboard packing and never received a broken or damaged bottle. I guess using soil as the packing material would be too heavy. Maybe popcorn (particularly the caramel corn variety) would work well. Might be an insulator, too.

]]> By: Dr. Vino http://www.drvino.com/2008/04/22/poll-styrofoam-or-cardboard-for-your-wine-shipping/#comment-91214 Dr. Vino Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:05:37 +0000 http://www.drvino.com/?p=1667#comment-91214 It's too bad that some of the comments here complain of breakage with cardboard/pulp. I guess I'm lucky to never have had that problem. Re: insulation, do you really find that it helps? I suppose the flipside is also true: if it gets too hot in a truck all day when being picked up then it could *stay* hot in the warehouse that night. It's really amazing that there isn't a better option--one that is insulating, cushioning, and biodegradable. It’s too bad that some of the comments here complain of breakage with cardboard/pulp. I guess I’m lucky to never have had that problem.

Re: insulation, do you really find that it helps? I suppose the flipside is also true: if it gets too hot in a truck all day when being picked up then it could *stay* hot in the warehouse that night.

It’s really amazing that there isn’t a better option–one that is insulating, cushioning, and biodegradable.

]]> By: Patrick http://www.drvino.com/2008/04/22/poll-styrofoam-or-cardboard-for-your-wine-shipping/#comment-91032 Patrick Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:32:31 +0000 http://www.drvino.com/?p=1667#comment-91032 I buy most of my wine in Chicago and fly home with it. I only see styrofoam inserts in the stores when I ask for or buy a shipping carton. It always protects the wine well, but my basement is now filled with empty foam cartons. The recycling is a problem. I buy most of my wine in Chicago and fly home with it. I only see styrofoam inserts in the stores when I ask for or buy a shipping carton. It always protects the wine well, but my basement is now filled with empty foam cartons. The recycling is a problem.

]]> By: Matt http://www.drvino.com/2008/04/22/poll-styrofoam-or-cardboard-for-your-wine-shipping/#comment-91004 Matt Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:52:20 +0000 http://www.drvino.com/?p=1667#comment-91004 I recently made the decision to switch the tasting room I run from stryo to pulp trays. Plup trays are just so much easier to store and take up little space in our already over stuffed cellar. Personally though I believe that stryofoam is a better insulator and is safer but its a risk I'm willing to take on sub-$30 bottles. I recently made the decision to switch the tasting room I run from stryo to pulp trays. Plup trays are just so much easier to store and take up little space in our already over stuffed cellar. Personally though I believe that stryofoam is a better insulator and is safer but its a risk I’m willing to take on sub-$30 bottles.

]]> By: David http://www.drvino.com/2008/04/22/poll-styrofoam-or-cardboard-for-your-wine-shipping/#comment-90996 David Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:51:33 +0000 http://www.drvino.com/?p=1667#comment-90996 At the winery I work at, they used foam shippers completely when I started there 4 years ago. I worked hard at moving them into recycled pulp (cardboard) trays instead. There was a lot of resistance at first. What we found is that the 12 bottle pulp tray shippers just didn't hold up well during shipping with UPS. We now use foam for the 12 bottle shippers but recycled pulp trays for everything else. At the winery I work at, they used foam shippers completely when I started there 4 years ago. I worked hard at moving them into recycled pulp (cardboard) trays instead. There was a lot of resistance at first.

What we found is that the 12 bottle pulp tray shippers just didn’t hold up well during shipping with UPS.

We now use foam for the 12 bottle shippers but recycled pulp trays for everything else.

]]> By: Mike http://www.drvino.com/2008/04/22/poll-styrofoam-or-cardboard-for-your-wine-shipping/#comment-90994 Mike Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:48:46 +0000 http://www.drvino.com/?p=1667#comment-90994 As a producer who ships thousands of cases of wine a year across the country, I really wrestle with this issue. But alas, I have to go with Styrofoam. Last year, I received two different shipments of wine off the same UPS truck at the same time. Both from local wineries. One six pack was packed in cardboard, the other in Styrofoam. The bottles in cardboard were quite warm and displayed no headspace, i.e., the wine got so warm it had expanded and was pushing on the cork. The bottles in Styrofoam still had ample headspace and were somewhat cool still. Given that wine is a perishable product, that was all the evidence I needed. I've also heard of too many reports of breakage when shipping in cardboard. As a producer who ships thousands of cases of wine a year across the country, I really wrestle with this issue. But alas, I have to go with Styrofoam. Last year, I received two different shipments of wine off the same UPS truck at the same time. Both from local wineries. One six pack was packed in cardboard, the other in Styrofoam. The bottles in cardboard were quite warm and displayed no headspace, i.e., the wine got so warm it had expanded and was pushing on the cork. The bottles in Styrofoam still had ample headspace and were somewhat cool still. Given that wine is a perishable product, that was all the evidence I needed. I’ve also heard of too many reports of breakage when shipping in cardboard.

]]> By: Tish http://www.drvino.com/2008/04/22/poll-styrofoam-or-cardboard-for-your-wine-shipping/#comment-90978 Tish Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:26:31 +0000 http://www.drvino.com/?p=1667#comment-90978 I prefer styro for its thermal properties, and assuage my guilt by bringing empties over to a wine store that is more than happy to take and reuse them. Incidentally, they tell me NOT to bring my cardboard ones... too much breakage. I prefer styro for its thermal properties, and assuage my guilt by bringing empties over to a wine store that is more than happy to take and reuse them. Incidentally, they tell me NOT to bring my cardboard ones… too much breakage.

]]> By: Arthur http://www.drvino.com/2008/04/22/poll-styrofoam-or-cardboard-for-your-wine-shipping/#comment-90942 Arthur Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:57:11 +0000 http://www.drvino.com/?p=1667#comment-90942 Another round of applause for Operaman, everyone! ;) Another round of applause for Operaman, everyone!

;)

]]> By: chris http://www.drvino.com/2008/04/22/poll-styrofoam-or-cardboard-for-your-wine-shipping/#comment-90941 chris Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:55:45 +0000 http://www.drvino.com/?p=1667#comment-90941 vino is not greeno it is expensivo protect your stuff don't be gruff just send a check to green peace "O" vino is not greeno
it is expensivo
protect your stuff
don’t be gruff
just send a check to green peace “O”

]]> By: Arthur http://www.drvino.com/2008/04/22/poll-styrofoam-or-cardboard-for-your-wine-shipping/#comment-90899 Arthur Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:46:21 +0000 http://www.drvino.com/?p=1667#comment-90899 Can the styrofoam containers be recycled? I have this uneasy feeling about the ability of cardboard to protect the bottles from heat and impact during transport. I have been saving the larger styrofoam containers I have received as I am preparing to move and, again, feel they will better protect my wines. I used to get styrofoam while in wine country, but since I bought a cooler on wheels, I find I can carry more wine and keep it cooler with a reusable cold pack. Can the styrofoam containers be recycled?

I have this uneasy feeling about the ability of cardboard to protect the bottles from heat and impact during transport. I have been saving the larger styrofoam containers I have received as I am preparing to move and, again, feel they will better protect my wines.

I used to get styrofoam while in wine country, but since I bought a cooler on wheels, I find I can carry more wine and keep it cooler with a reusable cold pack.

]]> By: Winehiker Witiculture http://www.drvino.com/2008/04/22/poll-styrofoam-or-cardboard-for-your-wine-shipping/#comment-90894 Winehiker Witiculture Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:22:08 +0000 http://www.drvino.com/?p=1667#comment-90894 [...] you considering the type and amount of packaging in the products you [...] [...] you considering the type and amount of packaging in the products you [...]

]]> By: winehiker http://www.drvino.com/2008/04/22/poll-styrofoam-or-cardboard-for-your-wine-shipping/#comment-90881 winehiker Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:31:52 +0000 http://www.drvino.com/?p=1667#comment-90881 Tyler, I too have tried that! I've also tried it with incandescent light bulbs, which have lead in them - but I used the phone that time. I've often mentioned to folks that styrofoam has a half-life of 10,000 years, but I might have been wrong about that. Apparently it's got a half-life of Never <a href="http://www.cleanhouston.org/living/recycling/decomposition.htm" rel="nofollow">according to these folks</a>. Tyler, I too have tried that! I’ve also tried it with incandescent light bulbs, which have lead in them - but I used the phone that time.

I’ve often mentioned to folks that styrofoam has a half-life of 10,000 years, but I might have been wrong about that. Apparently it’s got a half-life of Never according to these folks.

]]> By: Dr. Vino http://www.drvino.com/2008/04/22/poll-styrofoam-or-cardboard-for-your-wine-shipping/#comment-90874 Dr. Vino Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:58:19 +0000 http://www.drvino.com/?p=1667#comment-90874 winehiker - I saved a bunch of Styrofoam containers and took them to a big shop near me. They didn't want them. Oy! And to think that each case costs them $12 new... I haven't been back to that store for a while... winehiker -

I saved a bunch of Styrofoam containers and took them to a big shop near me. They didn’t want them. Oy! And to think that each case costs them $12 new… I haven’t been back to that store for a while…

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