Wine Shipper Options
12 solutions for shipping wine and other beverages
Any business selling drinks online — whether wine, spirits, beer, craft gin, fruit juice, or other non-alcoholic beverages — understands the importance of choosing the right bottle packaging.
Selecting the correct wine shippers or bottle boxes, along with suitable protective inserts, can be the difference between delighted customers and expensive breakages during transit.
This guide cuts straight to the point. It outlines 12 of the most common wine bottle packaging options, highlighting their key advantages and limitations. The goal is to help you make an informed decision based on your products, target market, operational needs, and environmental considerations.
This guide covers:
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A broad range of plastic-based inserts
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Options for single and multi-bottle shipments
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Environmentally friendly alternatives
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Solutions suitable for glass bottles beyond wine
Read on for a detailed breakdown of each option, or use the contents list below to jump straight to what matters most to you.
Quick Reference / Contents
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Bubble Wrap
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Air Sacs
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Cardboard Fittings
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Korrvu®
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Foam End Caps
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Flexi-Hex
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Foam / Plastic Nets
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Polystyrene (Moulded EPS)
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Pulp Mouldings
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Divider Sets
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Loose Fill
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Wood Wool
Introduction
The UK drinks industry
Before exploring packaging options, it’s useful to understand the scale of the UK food and drinks industry.
It is the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, contributing more to the economy than any other manufacturing industry — including automotive and aerospace. The sector employs around 440,000 people across approximately 11,000 businesses and generates a turnover of £104.4 billion, accounting for roughly 20% of total UK manufacturing output.
Exports also play a vital role, with British food and drink exports exceeding £23 billion.
With ecommerce sales within the UK drinks industry continuing to grow, effective bottle packaging has never been more important.
The role of packaging
The drinks industry is big business, but the COVID-19 pandemic permanently reshaped how it operates.
Two key shifts occurred. First, the closure of pubs and bars led consumers to drink more at home. Second, ecommerce expanded rapidly into the drinks sector, forcing businesses to find packaging solutions capable of protecting fragile glass bottles — often containing high-value products — during delivery.
As a result, wine bottle packaging has come under increased scrutiny. Packaging must now protect products in transit while also delivering a positive unboxing experience that meets rising customer expectations.
Wine Bottle Box Guide
Protective inserts used with outer cardboard shipping boxes
This guide explores 12 packaging options that can be used alongside standard corrugated outer cartons. These include inserts, sleeves, and void-fill materials, covering the full range of commonly used bottle protection solutions.
While wine bottles are referenced throughout, most of these options are also suitable for beer bottles and unusually shaped spirit bottles.
12 Wine Bottle Packaging Options
In no particular order, the most common solutions for shipping wine and glass bottles include:
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Bubble wrap / bags
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Air sacs
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Cardboard fittings
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Korrvu®
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Foam end caps
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Flexi-Hex
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Polystyrene / moulded EPS
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Pulp mouldings
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Divider sets
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Loose fill packing peanuts
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Wood wool
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Foam / plastic nets
Details on each option are outlined below.
01. Bubble Wrap / Bags
Low cost, limited brand appeal
Bubble wrap is one of the oldest and most widely used protective packaging materials and is commonly applied to bottle shipping.
Available as rolls, sheets, or pre-made bags, bubble wrap provides reasonable protection by cushioning bottles against impact. It is also relatively inexpensive.
However, bubble wrap has notable drawbacks. It is difficult to recycle, often ending up in landfill. The unboxing experience is also poor, which can be an issue for premium products. Additionally, bubble wrap can increase outer box size, leading to higher shipping costs.
Pros
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Reasonable transit protection
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Low cost
Cons
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Increases outer pack size and delivery costs
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Slower packing process
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Difficult to recycle
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Poor customer experience
02. Air Sacs
Improved protection over bubble wrap
Air sacs function similarly to bubble wrap but provide larger air chambers around the bottle, offering superior cushioning and reduced movement within the box.
Even if one chamber fails, protection remains intact. However, they share many of the same drawbacks as bubble wrap: poor recyclability, increased pack size, and a lack of premium presentation. They also require inflation, adding time to the packing process.
Pros
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Better protection than bubble wrap
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Cost effective
Cons
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Larger outer packs
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Additional packing step
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Difficult to recycle
03. Cardboard Fittings
An eco-friendly plastic alternative
Corrugated cardboard fittings are growing in popularity due to their recyclability and professional appearance. Designed to suit specific bottle shapes, they can offer strong protection and be performance tested if required.
They are fully recyclable, enhance the unboxing experience, and can be branded or printed.
The main limitation is reduced flexibility — different bottle sizes require different inserts — and some designs may slightly slow packing.
Pros
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Bottle-specific protection
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Recyclable
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Premium appearance
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Brandable
Cons
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Limited flexibility for mixed bottle sizes
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Slight impact on packing speed
04. Korrvu®
Cardboard frame with plastic film
Korrvu® combines a cardboard frame with tensioned plastic film to immobilise or suspend the bottle within the outer box. It offers excellent protection, fast assembly, and a striking unboxing experience.
However, the plastic film must be separated for recycling and the solution is more expensive than most alternatives.
Pros
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Excellent protection
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Quick to pack
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Visually impressive
Cons
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Film difficult to recycle
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Higher cost
05. Foam End Caps
Maximum protection
Foam end caps or full foam inserts provide the highest level of protection and are ideal for very high-value bottles. They can be precisely engineered to withstand severe handling.
The downside is recyclability. Foam is difficult to recycle and unsuitable for high-volume, single-use shipments, although eco-foam options are emerging.
Pros
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Outstanding protection
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Custom or generic designs
Cons
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Difficult to recycle
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Higher cost at scale
06. Flexi-Hex
Paper-based and adaptable
Flexi-Hex is a flexible, paper-based sleeve that expands to fit a range of bottle sizes. It provides good protection, is recyclable, and has a distinctive look that customers appreciate.
It may not suit unusually shaped bottles and does not offer the highest protection levels for premium shipments.
Pros
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Fits many bottle types
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Recyclable
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Mid-range cost
Cons
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Not suitable for all shapes
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Moderate protection
07. Foam / Plastic Nets
Flexible but not eco-friendly
Similar in design to Flexi-Hex, plastic or foam nets offer greater cushioning but lack recyclability. They suit a range of bottle sizes but compete more closely with bubble wrap in terms of environmental impact.
Pros
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Flexible sizing
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Improved protection over paper options
Cons
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Difficult to recycle
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Relatively expensive
08. Polystyrene / Moulded EPS
Traditional but outdated
Polystyrene provides low-cost cushioning but has major drawbacks. It offers limited impact resistance after the first drop, is difficult to recycle, and is viewed negatively by consumers.
Its bulk also increases transport emissions and costs.
Pros
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Low cost
Cons
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Not recyclable
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Poor customer perception
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Single-impact protection
09. Pulp Mouldings
Fibre-based alternative to EPS
Pulp mouldings are made from natural fibres and are recyclable and biodegradable. They are easy to use and available in both custom and generic formats.
Protection levels are lower than some alternatives, and they may not suit all bottle shapes, but they work well for low to mid-value shipments.
Pros
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Recyclable
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Cost effective
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Customisable
Cons
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Lower protection
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Limited compatibility
10. Divider Sets
Ideal for multiple bottles
Divider sets prevent bottles from moving or colliding during transit and are best suited to multi-bottle shipments. They are recyclable, inexpensive, and speed up packing.
They are not suitable for single bottles and may require additional cushioning for fragile or high-value items.
Pros
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Ideal for multi-bottle orders
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Low cost
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Recyclable
Cons
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Not suitable for single bottles
11. Loose Fill / Packing Peanuts
Low cost, low satisfaction
Loose fill can be used with almost any bottle and is quick to pack, but protection is limited. Storage is bulky, recycling is difficult, and customer frustration is high.
Pros
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Low cost
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Easy to use
Cons
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Poor recyclability
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Frustrating for customers
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Average protection
12. Wood Wool
Presentation-focused solution
Wood wool is biodegradable and visually appealing, making it popular for gift packs and hampers. However, it offers minimal transit protection and is relatively expensive.
Pros
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Excellent presentation
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Ideal for gift packaging
Cons
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Higher cost
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Low protection
Summary
Which option is right for you?
The answer depends on your priorities.
For low-cost protection, air sacs may be suitable, though environmental concerns remain. Spending slightly more opens up options like Flexi-Hex and corrugated cardboard fittings, which balance protection, sustainability, and presentation.
For very high-value bottles, foam solutions may be justified despite their environmental drawbacks.
If you’re unsure which solution best suits your needs we can provide tailored advice on bottle packaging and protective inserts.
Get in touch today to discuss your wine and drinks packaging requirements.