Chemical & Engineering News reports that researchers have found a way to use tartaric acid, a grape derived, wine industry by product, to separate cobalt and nickel during lithium ion battery recycling. The research matters beyond the cellar because the method is presented as simpler and more sustainable than conventional solvent based extraction, and the team says it recovered metals at high purity while cutting energy and chemical costs by roughly an order of magnitude.
Sustainability
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Western Australia Wine Sector Rolls Out Sustainability and Profitability Partnership
Winetitles reports that Wines of Western Australia, the state government’s DPIRD, and Wine Australia are rolling out collaborative initiatives aimed at sustainability, competitiveness and future profitability, including a Sustainability Engagement Officer role and renewed support for a Sustainability and Industry Development Program Manager. The story highlights practical levers such as encouraging accreditation through Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, pushing wider uptake of Margaret River’s Lightweight Bottle Charter, and relocating the WA Vine Improvement Association germplasm collection to a new site to safeguard access to verified grapevine material, with funding support via Wine Australia’s Research and Innovation Fund and matched investment.
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Croxsons Unveils Sovereign, A British Made Sparkling Wine Bottle
Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News reports that Croxsons has launched “Sovereign”, a new sparkling wine bottle designed for English and Welsh producers, aiming to cut transport miles by replacing bottles typically sourced from factories in France, Germany and Italy. The bottle uses amber glass rather than the traditional green, is made with 77% recycled glass and weighs 835g, with Ridgeview Wine among the producers cited as welcoming a domestically manufactured packaging option that supports provenance and sustainability.