Crushed waste glass could boost grape harvests and wine quality.
As the result of Sustainable Initiatives Fund taking a lead role in seed co-funding with other contributors through smart public-private partnerships, Sandihurst Winery, just outside Christchurch, has run a four-year trial of spreading crushed recycled glass round the base of vines. Results so far show the crushed glass has improved soil moisture retention, cluster weight, ripening and weed suppression.
The glass is the size of coffee sugar crystals and is safe to touch. The clever reuse of glass is a world first, and won an award at Environmental Packaging Awards for innovative use of surplus waste container glass (jars and bottles).
If it proves successful, it could have much wider application to southern wineries and other horticultural crops, and significantly reduce the glass waste stream.
