04/27/2006 02:19:00 PM 
Offering their Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, Ontario's LCBO claim French Rabbit to be the most successful new wine launch in its 79-year history.
French Rabbit was the first to take advantage of what will most likely be the new trend in wine packaging - The Tetra Prisma Aseptic (aseptic refers to ambient - shelf stable at room temperature products) package
According to Tetra's site...
Aseptic processing is a very energy-efficient method of heat treating food products. Aseptic packaging, on the other hand, is a good example of source reduction -- not only using minimal energy, but minimal materials as well.
Aseptic packages are made from paper (75%), polyethylene (20%), and aluminum foil (5%). Paper, the largest component, is a renewable resource. Most paper used to make today's aseptic packages comes from forests that are professionally managed and replanted. In Scandinavia, for instance, more new wood grows each year than is cut down to make paper, furniture, and other products.
Aseptic packages take less fossil fuels to transport during production and distribution. Before aseptic packages are filled, for instance, they travel from the packaging material plant to the filling plant in compact rolls. It takes only two transport vehicles to transport approximately one million non-filled aseptic packages from plant to producer. By contrast, it takes up to 52 transport vehicles to transport the same number of non-filled, pre-formed round packages.
After they are filled, aseptic packages, because of their rectangular shape, save a tremendous amount of space on their way to retail stores. Again, more product in less space requiring less energy and creating fewer emissions.
Aseptic cartons can also be recycled. Municipalities in numerous countries are now collecting and selling them as feed stock to recyclers who use them to manufacture paper products, pressed board, and other products.
Aseptic packages also burn cleanly and are an excellent fuel in modern waste-to-energy incinerators. If landfilled, they take minimal space, because they use minimal materials to begin with, thereby creating minimal waste. Further, they are easily compressed.
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