SIG, a global leader in food and beverage packaging solutions, has partnered with leading Australian wine producers to introduce a recycle-ready bag-in-box for wine, developed and manufactured at its Adelaide facility.  

The launch builds on SIG’s long track record of bag-in-box innovation and follows the debut of Australia’s first recycle-ready bag for water in 2024, marking another step forward in SIG’s ambition to build a regenerative food packaging system.  

The bag is made of SIG Terra RecShield, a mono-material film with a uniquely formulated polymer structure, replacing the conventional multi-layer film that contains aluminum. This means that every component of the bag-in-box—including the bag, tap, and carton—is now recycle-ready.   

This development supports the Australian 2025 National Packaging Targets and meets the Sustainable Packaging Guidelines of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO).  

SIG’s Adelaide-based Research and Development team has also introduced the country’s first locally manufactured wine tap made from light grey polymers that allow it to be easily detected by optical sorters at Australian recycling facilities, improving plastic separation and supporting higher-quality recycled output.  

When assessed through APCO’s Packaging Recyclability Evaluation Portal (PREP), the complete pack receives a “Check Locally” classification by the Australian Recycling Label, guiding consumers to curbside recycling where facilities exist or alternative drop-off points, such as supermarkets or council collection centers. 

The integrity and performance of the recycle-ready bag-in-box wine packaging has been validated through extensive shelf-life tests and transport trials with SIG’s development partners Hill-Smith Family Estates, Vinarchy, DeBortoli Wines, and Calabria Family Wines. 

Carmen Houston, ANZ Head of Marketing & Sustainability at SIG, said: “SIG has been at the forefront of bag-in-box packaging globally, and this product continues our commitment to innovation and leadership in sustainable packaging solutions for our customers, consumers, and the planet. Working with APCO and our winery partners, we are bringing a recycle-ready solution to market that fits Australian recycling infrastructure while maintaining wine quality through the supply chain.” 

Bag-in-box wine already offers recognized advantages over glass bottles, including lower transport emissions, efficient storage, and extended freshness once opened by limiting light and oxygen exposure*. Removing the aluminum layer reduces the pack’s carbon footprint and simplifies material recovery. 

Jason Spiteri, Executive Director–Wine at Hill Smith Family Estates, said: "Winesmiths, a proudly owned brand of Hill-Smith Family Estates, has led the varietal bag-in-box wine category in Australia for more than 40 years. We’re pleased to continue that legacy of innovation with this Australian-first, recycle-ready bag-in-box packaging from SIG. … We are proud to bring this important step forward in packaging to Australian shelves early in 2026." 

SIG’s Australian Research & Development team continues to explore ways to lower the environmental impact of flexible packaging, with additional recycle-ready solutions for other beverage and food service applications under development.