Wine Shop Enoteca to Phase Out Plastic Cushioning for Wine Bottles to Reduce Environmental Impact

Enoteca Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Shinji Hori) is proceeding with the discontinuation of plastic protective bags used for wrapping and packing wine bottles as part of its efforts to reduce its environmental footprint. Initially, 50 Wine Shop Enoteca stores (*1) nationwide will phase them out starting in May. This is expected to result in an annual reduction of about 5.4 tons of plastic materials. Furthermore, the company is currently reviewing its packaging materials for its e-commerce site (Enoteca Online). The newly introduced paper protective bags (center) will be used as needed. This initiative is based on Enoteca's sustainability policy, which sets a long-term goal of "reducing plastic waste in containers and packaging." While discontinuing the plastic protective bags used for wrapping wine bottles, the company will introduce new paper protective bags to be used only when label protection is necessary. From the perspective of reducing environmental impact by suppressing material use, the use of paper protective bags will also be kept to a minimum. When purchasing in-store, wine will be placed directly into a paper bag without a plastic protective bag. When multiple bottles are placed in a bag, paper protective bags will be used for some bottles as needed to prevent direct contact between them. For deliveries from stores using cardboard boxes, a policy of not using plastic or paper protective bags will be implemented. Safety will be ensured by taking care in handling during transport, utilizing "This Side Up" indicators (*2), etc. (*3). Plastic waste is considered a cause of various environmental issues, including marine pollution, ecosystem impact, and resource depletion. As a company that deals with wine, Enoteca is committed to properly addressing environmental challenges and reducing its environmental footprint. On the other hand, it is also important to deliver products safely to customers. The company will continue to strive for a balance between quality preservation and environmental consideration based on its past delivery performance and packaging design. *1: Stores operated in Japan. *2: The mainly used 6-bottle and 12-bottle cardboard boxes are printed with a "This Side Up" indication. For 1-bottle cardboard boxes, safety is ensured by a structure that secures the bottle. *3: When shipping gift boxes from stores, bubble wrap will be used on the exterior only for the purpose of protecting it from impacts and damage during transport. Also, when carrying items from the store in the rain, a vinyl cover may be used to protect the paper bag.