Wine bottle labels need to withstand hours in an ice bucket and, at the same time, come off easily when it is time to wash the bottles. Finding adhesives that meet both requirements is key to making glass bottles easier to reuse.

This is the goal of the AWO project, Implementation of wash-off adhesives for the reuse of bottles in the wine sector. It addresses one of the main obstacles to giving bottles a second life: conventional labels, which can make them harder to wash.

So far, the project has studied the adhesives available and tested their application on more than 20,000 bottles. It will now begin large-scale validation of their performance during the washing process.

AWO also aims to identify the most suitable combinations of paper and adhesive, assess how effectively the labels are removed, and support the adoption of the system across the sector. The initiative seeks to reduce water and energy consumption during cleaning and extend the useful life of reusable bottles.

The project includes an analysis of current labels and washing processes, tests of different materials, and pilot trials with participating wineries. The results will help validate the system and support its transfer to the sector.

The consortium comprises Abadal, Albet i Noya, POTS, La Vinyeta and Art Laietà (Alta Alella). The project is supported by the Waste Agency of Catalonia through its grants for projects promoting the circular economy.