2024-09-07 06:47:36
In the Marie-Louise crate workshop in Beychac-et-Caillau on the right bank of Bordeaux, the thirty or so employees work on different machines to print, by fire or heat, thousands of wooden crates. Each year, some 1.7 million crates leave this workshop, destined for wine estates, mainly in Bordeaux, but also in Burgundy, the Rhône Valley, Champagne, Provence, etc.
Crates of all shapes. “We have 600 different formats,” explains the president of the crate factory, Karine Abel: “there are crates that range from one to twelve bottles, crates for classic bottles, for magnums, double magnums, knowing that there are also more and more new bottles that come out for marketing reasons. And, we ourselves offer different systems, with nailing, sliding, or guillotine crates.”
Know-how under threat
Table of Contents
- 1 Know-how under threat
- 2 “The recycling aspect hurts us”
- 3 Wooden packaging should increasingly become “luxury packaging”
- 4 Here are some PAA (People Also Ask) related questions for the title “The Art of Wooden Crates: A Luxury Packaging in Peril”:
- 5 What unique features make wooden crates a preferred choice for luxury packaging in the wine industry?
Table of Contents
“This is typically French know-how,” insists general manager Camille Lebrun, “since we also export our crates to Canada and Germany, where there is no shortage of wood.” Know-how that is now under threat. This is how the Marie-Louise crate factory created, with eight other French crate factories (seven of which are based in Gironde), the Alliance France Caisse Bois (AFCB), which in total produces some ten million crates per year, 300 jobs and 45 million euros in turnover. The wooden crate sector has in fact just lost “between 15 and 20% of its market share in two years,” warns Karine Abel. The reason: “the increase in the price of wood,” and the omnipresence of cardboard, which now outrageously dominates the market, thanks in particular to prices that are “two to three times lower.”
But, after all, isn’t a sector that is losing market share in a competitive market, especially in the midst of an economic crisis, particularly in the wine sector, part of the hazards of a company’s life? “Yes, except that a large number of wine estates tell us that they are turning to cardboard for… ecological reasons, highlighting the recycling of cardboard, that’s where we don’t agree, because wood is actually much more ecological,” says Karine Abel.
“We have about 1% of the market share, so the idea is not to wage war on cardboard, we have neither the desire nor the means to do so,” explains Camille Lebrun. “But hearing that cardboard is more sustainable than wooden crates, when we use a product that is not transformed, that consumes very little water, and that is systematically revalued, poses a serious problem for us.”
“The recycling aspect hurts us”
Revalued, but not recycled in the strict sense of the term. Which is important for wine estates when establishing their carbon footprint. “This recycling aspect hurts us,” acknowledges Camille Lebrun, “yet we are not responsible for the implementation or not of a recycling sector.” Above all, this does not prevent the wooden crates, at the end of the chain, from being very rarely thrown away and, in the vast majority, reused (for storage, decoration, etc.)
The industry also deplores the fact that the entire life cycle of the product is not considered when calculating the carbon footprint. “We only use maritime pine from Galicia (Spain) [plus adapté que le pin des Landes] “which has reached maturity and has stored carbon throughout its growth,” points out Karine Abel. “But we cannot take this into account…”
Finally, “we produce zero wood waste: in the sawmills, sawdust and shavings are reused; in the alliance’s nine crate factories, non-compliant boards are recycled, and what is not is put in a bin, collected by a company which in turn recycles this wood.”
Wooden packaging should increasingly become “luxury packaging”
What worries professionals in the sector even more, “is that a new European regulation, applicable from 2030, stipulates that all packaging must be recyclable,” warns Camille Lebrun. The sector thus fears “that it will suddenly be decided that there is no more wooden packaging.” “That is why we are reacting today, because if we do not come together, we are exposing ourselves to a very great danger, and if necessary, we will come together with other professionals, the manufacturers of tomato punnets, oyster baskets, or Camembert boxes – whose disappearance we had feared at one point,” continues Camille Lebrun.
The two managers of the Marie-Louise crate factory insist on the artisanal and local aspect of their sector. “Even if we have automated or semi-automated certain manufacturing processes, we will always need women and men to work this material, which is a living material,” assures Karine Abel. “Behind the wooden crate, there are SMEs, there are no multinationals,” adds Camille Lebrun. And everything is made in France: with us, nothing comes from China or goes back to China by going around the world three times…”
Although the two business leaders remain “convinced of the virtues of wooden packaging”, they nevertheless recognise that it risks becoming, more and more, “luxury packaging reserved for certain wines.”
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The Art of Wooden Crates: A Luxury Packaging in Peril
In the heart of Bordeaux, the Marie-Louise crate workshop in Beychac-et-Caillau produces an astonishing 1.7 million wooden crates every year, catering to wine estates in Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône Valley, Champagne, and Provence. This French know-how, which has been perfected over the years, is now under threat due to the increasing popularity of cardboard packaging.
A Know-how Under Threat
The wooden crate sector has lost 15 to 20
What unique features make wooden crates a preferred choice for luxury packaging in the wine industry?
The Art of Wooden Crates: A Luxury Packaging in Peril
In the Marie-Louise crate workshop in Beychac-et-Caillau, on the right bank of Bordeaux, a team of skilled craftsmen work tirelessly to produce high-quality wooden crates. Each year, approximately 1.7 million crates leave this workshop, destined for wine estates mainly in Bordeaux, but also in Burgundy, the Rhône Valley, Champagne, and Provence.
Crates of All Shapes and Sizes
The Marie-Louise crate factory offers an impressive range of 600 different formats, catering to various wine bottle sizes and shapes. From classic bottles to magnums and double magnums, the factory’s expertise in crafting crates that meet specific needs is unparalleled. Their crates come with different systems, including nailing, sliding, or guillotine crates, demonstrating their commitment to versatility and customization.
A Threat to Traditional Know-How
Despite being a pride of French know-how, the wooden crate sector is facing a significant threat. The Alliance France Caisse Bois (AFCB), which comprises nine French crate factories, including Marie-Louise, has seen its market share decline by 15-20% in just two years. The main reason for this decline is the surge in wood prices, making it difficult for wooden crate manufacturers to compete with cardboard, which has become a more cost-effective option.
Luxury Packaging in Peril
The wooden crate industry is fighting to maintain its position in the market. Camille Lebrun, general manager of Marie-Louise, emphasizes the importance of preserving this traditional French know-how, which is not only a symbol of luxury packaging but also a vital part of France’s cultural heritage. To counter the decline, the industry is shifting its focus towards promoting wooden crates as a premium product, showcasing their unique qualities and benefits.
French Expertise in Wooden Crates
France is renowned for its expertise in wooden crate manufacturing, with many factories like Marie-Louise offering made-to-measure crates tailored to specific needs [1]. These crates are crafted with precision and care, ensuring they meet the highest standards of quality.
Sourcing Wooden Crates in France
For businesses seeking to source high-quality wooden crates, France is an ideal destination. With many suppliers to choose from, companies can find the perfect
