Spring is finally here and the weather this weekend was incredible with more sunny days projected here in Massachusetts for the rest of the week. To celebrate, we cracked open The Naked Grape’s 3L boxed cabernet.

The Naked Grape partnered with TerraCycle, a company committed to keeping used wine boxes out of landfills by recycling or upcycling them into new, unique products. Once finished enjoying the wine inside, consumers can send the empty packaging to TerraCycle for free to give it a second life by recycling or upcycling it into park benches, bike racks, recycling bins and more.

More than just a recycling company, TerraCycle strives to be a driving force behind increasing environmental awareness and action. Our goal is to be a trusted resource for families, schools, communities, and even corporations to find tips, stats, facts, tactics, and news to help them live a greener, cleaner lifestyle.

She had participated with her students in TerraCycle’s “Drink Pouch Brigade” recycling and fundraising program, which rewards groups who collect and send in used Honest Kids and Capri Sun juice pouches.

As consumer interest in green lifestyles grows, customers are no longer satisfied with simply buying eco-friendly products. They are as equally interested in the impact their product packaging has on the environment, and are mindful of what they are throwing away with every purchase. This puts a lot of pressure on consumer product companies, as fully recyclable packaging can be difficult to produce. Despite the fact that many municipal systems have switched from dual stream recycling to commingled recycling, a lot of product packaging still cannot be processed through curbside pickup. Confounding the issue further is the fact that a lot of packaging tends to be made from a mix of materials. This typically means the packaging remains unrecycled, as the cost of sorting and processing the mixed components is too high for most municipal systems. This means that consumers have no choice but to throw most of their packaging away, regardless of their interest in keeping waste out of landfills.

Naked Grape Wine launched a new 3-liter box in addition to their traditional glass packaging. The box delivers the same product as the glass bottles with the added benefit of compact, convenient packaging. To improve the sustainability of the package, Naked Grape has partnered with TerraCycle, a company which recycles and upcycles packaging, to allow consumers to send empty packages in for a second life.

Anyone over 21 has access to some of the best upcycling materials around – wine packaging. If your wine of choice comes from a bottle, then the cork and glass container provide great inspiration. Empty wine boxes present another opportunity for cutting, gluing and pasting into new projects. At TerraCycle, we were challenged by The Naked Grape to come up with brand new projects made from wine packaging.   Wine corks have so much character to them. The ends of the cork show a glimpse to your preference of red versus white. Wine boxes, on the other hand, come in a rainbow of colors allowing you to mix and match and even color coordinate with your home décor. Gather up the packaging from your favorite vintage and let’s get to work.   Wine Corks Earrings If you’ve just started your wine cork collection, then earrings are the way to go. One wine cork can go a long way and can be sliced into a few pairs of earrings. It’s a fun solution to keep your wine corks hanging around.   Wine Cork Door Knob Stopper Add one wine cork to a vintage door knob and you’ve got your very own up-upcycled wine stopper. Since this comes from a pair of upcycled materials, it’s surely a project that you’ll adore.   Wine Cork Namecard HolderPair up two sets of wine corks for the perfect place to hold guests names. You can uncork your creativity and use upcycled coffee sleeves or other scrap paper for the card.   Monogram LettersNow that you’re a pro at wine cork collecting and you’ve recruited friends and family, too, you’re ready to move on to wine cork letters. Use cardboard as the base material (great use for that wine box) and glue and assemble corks onto the letters, showing off the red and white ends.   Wine Boxes For those of you who drink from the boxed wine varietal, here are some projects that get you thinking outside the recycled box.   Coaster Coast in on this easy coaster project. Simply trace an existing coaster or other round object and cut it into shape. You can always add embellishment with markers, glitter, and more.   Wine CharmsThis wine charm project is a simple way to identify your glass throughout the evening. And best of all, it’s made from the packaging itself giving it added charm.   Placecard HolderCut and fold a box in a few simple spots and you’ve crafted a spot for your favorite name.   Wine Box ToteSimply cut your box in half and add a ribbon handle to create a tote for an easy way to transport a gift or other small cargo.   Magnetic Word PlayGlue magnets to the back of your box and use the text from to create your own magnetic word set. You can mix and match words and create your own messages and poems. The possibilities are endless and you can reuse these magnets over and over.   Picture FrameFrame your favorite photo inside your favorite flavor. This picture perfect project is simple to create with a few strategic cuts and is a great way to reuse your box.   Wine Box Business Card HolderGet down to business with this project that was featured on Made + Remade’s site last year. Download the template and trace and cut. - See more at: http://blog.diynetwork.com/maderemade/2014/07/29/15-projects-you-can-make-from-wine-packaging/#sthash.VuNRUobh.dpuf

The Naked Grape was featured on WFLA in Tampa Bay, Florida for their boxed wines and partnership with TerraCycle.

To ensure all materials found in The Naked Grape wine box packaging—from the paperboard box to the inner bag and spout—are fully recyclable across the country, The Naked Grape has partnered with TerraCycle.

The Naked Grape teamed up with TerraCycle, an international upcycling and recycling company that takes difficult-to recycle-packaging and turns it into affordable, innovative products.