As the largest winery in Oregon, King Estate Winery is committed not only to making great wine, but to making a difference for customers, the community and the planet. For over 20 years, the winery has been fulfilling this commitment by producing wines of exceptional quality using organic and sustainable farming methods, meticulous fruit selection, impeccable winemaking practices and judicious blending. It was their goal to extend these values to their packaging methods that brought this innovative winery and TricorBraun together in a partnership that sources the best of what both companies can do. The results are programs and systems that are consistent with the stewardship goals of both TricorBraun and King Estate - as no one involved is ever content to rest on their laurels, they continue to work together, always striving to improve on their successes.

Thinking Outside the Bottle

King Estate had been working with another glass provider for over a decade when they first talked to TricorBraun about making a change to a more sustainable glass solution. After they met with TricorBraun sales representative Gillian Brennan, they decided that the eco-glass they were looking for was only one of the changes they could make to forward their sustainability efforts. With deep, established relationships in both the region and the category, Gillian and King Estate analyzed existing processes and then, together, developed new programs that helped the winery reduce the impact of their packaging choices. In addition, the new programs introduced important new technologies, solutions to delivery challenges, a brilliantly conceived recycling program, and more.

Modern Efficiencies and the Ancient Art of Winemaking

First, TricorBraun helped King Estate source a corrugated carton from a local company which also enabled them to incorporate an innovative QR code on those cartons and keep the printing process local. Then, a decision was made to employ sesame tape to seal the new cartons, providing a seamless closure, an easy-opening box and protection for the product with the guarantee of a clean display at select big box stores where this wine is sold. Next, delivery snags were eliminated by the sourcing of a local, reliable trucking company and, finally, a modest new source of income arose from the implementation of an efficient internal recycling program. By putting an idle baler that was already at the Estate into use, the winery now crushes and bales their discarded cardboard, plastics and other recyclables and then, instead of using their own labor to transport their unbundled recyclables to a far-off facility as they used to, they simply call the recycling company to come pick it all up when they’re ready… and the recycling company sends them a check for the proceeds!

A Sustainable Partnership

What started as a search for a simple eco-bottle has turned into a sustainable and rewarding partnership. TricorBraun now handles all of King Estate’s wine packaging needs and, as King Estate expands their offerings into the personal care category, they have begun to work with other divisions of TricorBraun to source effective, creative and efficient packaging for the hand lotions and soaps made from lavender grown in the lush, rolling fields of the Estate’s 1,000+ certified organic acres.

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TricorBraun specializes in innovation, effective new technologies, global sourcing, strategic thinking and, most of all, solutions. The company looks forward to working with new clients to help their businesses thrive.