Story | 06/13/2023 13:37:47 | 3 min Read time

From Vine to Label: How Piedra Negra Extends Environmental Responsibility by Using Post-Consumer Waste Labels

Piedra Negra is a winery located in Valle de Uco, in the south Mendoza province in Argentina. In one of the most prestigious terroirs in the Los Chacayes, Piedra Negra produces their delightful wines using the grapes from their vineyards. With sustainability and conservation at the core of the winery’s operations, they were determined to find a label material compatible with these values. Through collaboration with partners that shared this vision, like UPM Raflatac, Estudio Dizen, and Argentag, Piedra Negra found just that.

TAKEAWAYS

  1. Piedra Negra, a winery located in the south Mendoza province in Argentina, wanted to extend their sustainable efforts to each production stage of their line: Alta Colección
  2. By using UPM Raflatac’s ENVI material made with post-consumer waste, Piedra Negra was able to meet its sustainability goals without compromising performance and design.
  3. Collaboration throughout the value chain with the designer, printer, and label stock supplier was critical to the success of the project and meeting all criteria of Piedra Negra. With this label they can grab consumers’ attention and communicate their brand effectively.

About Piedra Negra

Its owner and founder, François Lurton, traveled through several regions of Argentina looking for the most suitable terroir for his wines. A pioneer in this valley, he chose to plant his vineyards in a high and semi-desert land (poor gravel reminiscent of Pessac-Léognan) in the plains at the foot of the Andes: the Uco Valley. This region's soil, vegetation, and climate characteristics were the key to developing the great wines Piedra Negra produces today.

The whole production is organic and based on viticulture practices that respect the environment. They work with special care for the natural species that give life to these soils, which are more than just a feature of the area, they are part of the vineyards.

The Wine Label Design for Alta Colección

ESTUDIO DIZEN designed the labels for Alta Colección. Ignacio Eguiguren, creative director and owner of the studio, said, “For this design, we were inspired by our culture in relation to the cultivation of organic vineyards, naturalness, and sustainability.”

The new image highlights the floral and aromatic character of these wines. The flowers evoke a connection with the earth and nature, and the green tones convey a sense of tranquility and meet the concept of the organic.

Collaborating to Choose the Right Sustainable Label Material

With the premise of communicating nature and sustainability through packaging, the ESTUDIO DIZEN design team chose the ENVI® PCW100 WSA-FSC material, which perfectly matches the label requirements and enhances the design, allowing the winery to expand its contribution to sustainability in each of its production stages.

ENVI® PCW100 WSA-FSC, with RS30 adhesive and PET 30 PCR liner, is a high-quality, 100% post-consumer waste (PCW) paper with a smooth, ultra-white, moisture-resistant appearance and is specifically designed for the labeling of bottles. This material is also Forest Stewardship Council "FSC" certified. The clear polyester backing that supports this paper contains up to 90% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. Using PCW and PCR materials reduces the use of virgin raw materials in both the face material and the release liner.

The labels were printed by Lucas Elsener's Argentag using Italian flexographic technology, hot stamping, and silkscreen varnish that enhances the design and captures the consumer's gaze.

This collaboration throughout the value chain supported Piedra Negra in meeting its goal of creating an outstanding label centered on sustainability.

 

Seawake Gin: A wave of change with UPM Raflatac's Ocean Action labels
Story | 5 min

Seawake Gin: A wave of change with UPM Raflatac's Ocean Action labels

Read more
Waste to Resource Program: Unlocking high-value recycling of PET bottles with UPM Raflatac RW85C wash-off labels
Story | 8 min

Waste to Resource Program: Unlocking high-value recycling of PET bottles with UPM Raflatac RW85C wash-off labels

Read more
Napue Gin: Elegant package and label with a timeless design
Story | 4 min

Napue Gin: Elegant package and label with a timeless design

Read more