Polypet’s Eco-Flat Wine Bottle won the SAPRO 2026 Gold Award for Best Innovation, celebrating a packaging solution that rethinks how wine is packaged, transported, and stored to improve sustainability whilst retaining enjoyment.
The South African Plastics Recycling Organisation (SAPRO) gathers the industry together annually to celebrate the innovators turning waste into worth.
This award demonstrates that recycled plastic can compete on quality, performance and design across an increasingly diverse range of applications, even across traditional categories such as wine in glass bottles.
Developed in collaboration with Polyoak’s specialist PET division, Polypet and Packamama, SAFRIPOL and Stellenbosch Vineyards, the Eco-Flat Wine Bottle combines local expertise, recycled materials and clever design. The 750ml bottle weighs just 63 grams making it up to 80% lighter than traditional glass, but with the strength and practicality of PET.
The bottle contains 25% locally sourced post-consumer recycled PET (rPET) supplied by SAFRIPOL. This gives recycled material another valuable application while supporting South Africa’s recycling value chain and keeping material in circulation.
What really sets the Eco-Flat apart is its shape. The flat design is up to 40% more space-efficient per pallet than traditional glass bottles, helping to make better use of transport and storage space. Its lightweight format also means less weight to move through the supply chain, which can help reduce transport-related costs and environmental impact.
For wine brands, the benefits extend beyond logistics. The shatter-resistant PET format opens up opportunities for occasions where glass is impractical, including outdoor events, festivals, on airline service trolleys and online delivery. Its larger front-facing surface also gives brands more room to make an impact on the shelf.
This Eco-Flat Innovation Award shows what is possible when manufacturers, brand owners and recyclers work together to find innovative new uses for recycled plastic. Creating that demand is essential if we want to keep more plastic in circulation.