(PackWorld) - Growth will be sustained by continued increases in global wine production, despite declining per capita consumption rates in Europe, which accounted for about 60% of consumption and nearly 65% of production in 2015. Ongoing changes in where wine is produced and how it is packaged will lead to significant opportunities for newer packaging formats. These trends are presented in “World Wine Packaging: Containers, Closures & Accessories,” a new study from The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industry research firm.

Glass bottles have been the preferred wine container, as they have excellent barrier properties and can protect wine nearly indefinitely. As a result, glass continues to dominate the container segment, accounting for about 85% of the global total in 2015. However, this share is declining. Glass bottles are heavy, adding to shipping costs. Also, most of the still wine produced around the world is consumed not long after it is made, meaning that while many consumers might prefer bottles, they are not always necessary. These factors have led to the rise of alternatives, including bag-in-box containers, aseptic cartons, plastic bottles, cans, and cups.