First, there was the plastic cork, and then the screw cap. Now the wine bottle has reached another rung in its packaging evolution – wine in environmentally friendly soft plastic bottles.

Backsberg Wine Estate has just launched its new wine brand, Tread Lightly, and it is packaged in a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) wine bottle.

The bottle is fully recyclable, and by using PET instead of glass, carbon emissions are reduced by up to 55% (based on life cycle analysis studies).

Although the PET makes use of petroleum-based materials, the overall environmental impact is very favourable compared to glass. Because PET is so strong and lightweight, it allows more product to be delivered with less packaging, less weight and less fuel for transport.

But does the packaging affect the taste of the wine? Not at all, plus Mondi, the supplier of the PET bottle, guarantees the wine a shelf life of two years.

This is quite lucky, considering that wines bottled in the Tread Lightly range are intended for consumption within two years of bottling.

The perfect tipple for picnics, outdoor music festivals, hiking or environmentally friendly parties.

Find the wine at selected Pick n Pay stores and liquor outlets at R49.99 for the Tread Lightly Merlot and R39.99 for the Tread Lightly Sauvignon Blanc.