Hexagonal wine bottle: shipping costs -39%

“We experimented with 38 different prototypes before arriving at the final solution,” says Behnia. The hexagonal bottle, presented during the “All Things Bottle Sustainability” workshop organized by Napa Green (a sustainable viticulture program that offers a complete soil-to-bottle journey) at Pine Ridge Vineyards, represents a significant breakthrough in wine bottle design.

"Shape and size are as crucial as weight," explains Behnia, emphasizing how an integrated approach is essential to reducing carbon emissions. "A lightweight but fragile bottle requires more material for protection, negating the benefits of reduced weight."

Thanks to the hexagonal design, a pallet can hold up to 80 cases of wine, compared to 56 for a traditional bottle. This means fewer trucks, fewer containers, and fewer pallets, significantly reducing the carbon footprint throughout the supply chain: "We've reduced shipping costs by 39%," Behnia proudly states.

In addition to cost savings, the new bottle has proven to be remarkably robust. "We had no returns or leaks during our testing," Behnia says, indicating that fragility isn't an issue despite the bottle's light weight, which currently weighs 560 grams, with a goal of reaching 460 grams.

Not only the innovative shape, but also technology plays a key role in this revolution. In collaboration with WestRock, Behnia has developed a tracker that provides precise data on the package's location, as well as monitoring temperature, humidity, and shock. This system is designed to improve the customer experience, avoiding common problems like missed deliveries. "We track the shipment all the way to the customer to ensure there are no problems," explains Behnia.

The hexagonal bottles are made from 100% recycled glass from Estal (a company specializing in the creation and design of custom glass bottles). The outer cardboard box is designed to resist impacts, ensuring the wine arrives intact at its destination.

With four patents already secured, Behnia is ready to license the hexagonal bottles to select partners. "We're specifically targeting wineries in Napa and Sonoma" that share Neotempo Wines' vision of sustainability. "I've turned down a few offers because they weren't sufficiently aligned on this theme," Behnia reveals.

But the innovation doesn't stop there. Behnia is already thinking about the next step: a wine delivery service using electric vehicles: "It will be zero-emission delivery."

Kia Behnia's visionary approach not only promises to revolutionize wine logistics, but also sets new standards for sustainability. Its hexagonal bottle represents a concrete example of how innovation can lead the industry toward a more sustainable, economical, and efficient future.