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Calculation of the CO2 footprint using the example of Austrian wine Cover
By: Werner Pölz and  Franz G. Rosner  
Open Access
|Jan 2026

Figures & Tables

GHG emissions per bottle during bottle washing in large-scale and modern operations (Original table)

Wine bottle cleaning (reuse)Steam energy (heat) in kWh/bottle (refillable)Natural gas for steam energy (heat) in kWh/bottleElectricity energy in kWh/bottle (refillable)Energy consumption in kWh/bottleGHG emissions in kg/bottle
Data KRONES0.02170.0240.01770.0420.011
Details bottler WeinviertelLitres of fuel oil/1100 bottleskWh heating oil/1100 bottlesEnergy consumption in kWh/bottleGHG emissions kg/bottleTotal GHG emissions in kg/bottle
Thermal fuel oil9.6793.010.0850.0220.02832
Electricity input 25.000.0230.006

j_mittklbg-2023-0010_tab_007

MachineElectrical energy (kWh)Low-pressure air (Nm3/h)Process water (m3/h)Steam (kWh)CO2(kg/h)Cooling energy – refrigeration system (kWh)
Bottel slider2.814.0
Empty bottle inspector0.88.3
Feeding system for closures0.80.3
Control system for filler and capper (incl. VS blow-off)0.550.0
Control system for labels0.5
Container dryer14.5
Palletiser3.015.0
Disposable packer – case4.518.0
Labelling machine3.620.0
Rinser – 1 channel5.03.00.8
Filler with vacuum pump10.040.00.3 16.05.0
Container transport8.0 0.4
Packages transport5.0
Pallet transport slider2.5
Pallet transport loader2.5
Capsule machine5.025.0
Injector1.0
Film winder4.010.0
Container labeller1.0
Container inspector0.5
Bottle washing machine30.01.01.5130.0
Container sorter0.53.0
Quantity/hour106.0207.83.0130.016.05.0
Consumption per 1,000 bottles17.734.60.521.72.70.8

j_mittklbg-2023-0010_tab_006

MachineElectrical energy (kWh)Low-pressure air (Nm3/h)Process water (m3/h)Steam (kWh)CO2 (kg/h)Cooling energy-refrigeration system (kWh)
Combined unloader and loader5.015.0
Sorting of foreign bottles0.53.0
Bottle washing machine35.01.02.75200.0
Inspection module for self-adhesive0.5
labels
Empty bottle inspector1.010.0
Container transport13.0 0.55
Packages transport11.0
Pallet transport2.0
Unpacker2.55.0
Packer2.55.0
Unscrewers6.01.0
Box washer (hot)15.00.50.525.0
Film winder5.012.0
Quantity/hour99.052.53.8225.00.00.0
Consumption per 1,000 bottles9.95.30.422.50.00.0

j_mittklbg-2023-0010_tab_008

Energy sources and materialsScope 1Scope 2Scope 3Unit
Electricity production in Austria 2020 214,652,4g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Diesel (combustion)255 65,7g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Wine treatment agent PVPP 12,2g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Filtration material diatomaceous earth 0,03g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Dried yeast 2,6g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Gelatine (liquid) 1g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Activated charcoal 0,6g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Enzymes 6,77g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Bottles/refillable Austria 0,8g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Bottles/disposable international fossil 1,15g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Bag in Box 3,1g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
KEG-Stainless steel barrels 2,45g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Screw cap (aluminium) 19,5g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Cork 1,4g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Labels 1,5g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Cardboard 0,80g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Crop protection products conventional 12,2g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Nitrous oxide emissions from soil nitrogen5,32 g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Nitrogen – mineral fertiliser production 7,8g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Potassium – mineral fertiliser production 1,30g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Phosphorus – mineral fertiliser production 1,0g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Magnesium – mineral Fertiliser Production 1,20g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Sucrose 1,5g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Steel poles 2,40g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Vine planting material 1,0g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Wire 2,40g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Concrete pole 2,8g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Plastic pole 3,22g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Wooden pole 0,2g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Wooden stakes 0,20g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Steel stakes 2,4g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh
Plastic stakes 3,22g CO2 equivalent emissions per kWh

Types of small packages included in the study_ Numbers of possible refills for each type are stated_

small packagingtechnical descriptionnumber of possible refills
Bag-in-boxMaterial: PET outer film for oxygen-sensitive products such as wine, fruit concentrates and fruit preparations. Tare weight: 0.056 kg (without carton); Capacity: 3 l, disposable1
KEG-steel tanksEuro KEG 20 l, calibrated, KEG tanks for storage of beer, wine and juice. Dead weight: 4.5 kg; capacity: 20 l; returnable100
Sustainability – returnable bottle (Austria)Glass bottle production in Austria: share of cullet at least 75 % and energy mix average Austria; share of renewable energy in energy mix average; tare weight: 0.480 kg/bottle (average weight between Bordeaux and Rhine wine bottle); capacity: 0.75 l; reusable according to eco-label 26 “Reusable containers and reusable cup systems” with a refill rate of 1212
Exclusive returnable bottle (Austria)Glass bottle production Austria (share of cullet at least 75 %; energy mix average in Austria; share of renewable energy sources in energy mix average; tare weight: 0.600 kg/bottle; capacity: 0.75 l; reusable according to eco-label 26 “Reusable containers and reusable cup systems” with a refill rate of 1212
Disposable bottle (international) – one wayGlass bottle production international (no cullet; share 100 % fossil fuels in the energy mix; net weight: 0.600 kg/bottle; capacity: 0.75 l; disposable1
PET bottle (primary materials)PET bottle for the production of which primary materials were used and a bottle weight of 60g/0.75l bottle is assumed.1
PET bottle (secondary materials)PET bottle for the production of which secondary materials were used and a bottle weight of 50g/0.75l bottle is assumed.1

Data basis for the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions from a vineyard in Austria for 1 hectare of vineyard area_

AreaAmountUnit
Vineyard-infrastructure4,349kg steel (poles, stakes und wire)
Planting3,570Piece of vines
Tractor-energy input1,650kWh diesel (app. 160 litres)
Plant protection11kg plant protection products conventional
Fertilization155kg mineral fertilizer (40 kg nitrogen, 70 potassium, 20 kg phosphorus, 25 kg magnesium)
Enrichment175kg beet sugar
Fining products19,5kg (must and wine treatment agents)
Wine storage – Energy1,600kWh conventional electricity
Bottling – Energy600kWh conventional electricity
Winery – Energy200kWh conventional electricity
Bottle8,370pieces “Bordeaux 480 g”
Closures25.1kg aluminum capsules
Labelling15.7kg paper
Packaging488.25kg cardboard cases

Greenhouse gas emissions in kg CO2eq per scope, per area and in total for a model winery in

GHG-emissionsScope 1Scope 2Scope 3Sum totalUnit% share
Vineyard establishment 417417kg6.4
Diesel (tractor)414 107521kg8.0
Plant protection products 128128kg2.0
Fertilization213 454667kg10.3
Enrichment 263263kg4.0
Wine treatment products 3030kg0.5
Electricity use (cellar to bottling) 515126641kg9.9
Bottle 3,1193,119kg48.0
Closures+labels+cardboard cases 710710kg10.9
Sum6275155,3546,496kg100
Share in %9.77.982.4100%

Impact of small packaging and possible refills on GHG emissions in kg per small container unit and GHG emissions in kg per litre of wine in accordance with table 2

Container typeGHG emissions in kg per small container unitGHG emissions in kg per litreGHG emissions in kg per litre in case of refilling
Bag-in-box0.1520.0510.051
KEG steel container11.020.5510.006
Sustainability – returnable 0.370 kg/0.75 litre bottle (Austria)0.2870.3830.032
Exclusive returnable 0.600 kg/0.75 litre bottle (Austria)0.4660.6210.052
Disposable 0.600 kg/0.75 litre bottle (international) – one way0.5700.7600.760
PET bottle (primary materials) kg/0.75 litre bottle0.1830.2440.244
PET bottle (secondary materials) kg/0.75 litre bottle0.110.1470.147
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mittklbg-2023-0010 | Journal eISSN: 3061-063X | Journal ISSN: 3061-0621
Language: English
Page range: 152 - 167
Published on: Jan 8, 2026
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2026 Werner Pölz, Franz G. Rosner, published by High School and Federal Office of Viticulture and Pomology
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.