Earth Month: The First Loop is Complete!

At Revino, we’ve always said that the #ReuseRevolution is far from a trend; it’s a systemic shift that's needed for long-term success.

As we wrap up April, a month the world dedicates to our shared planet, we have some monumental updates that prove Earth Month is every month when you choose to reuse. From launching our washing operations to completing our first official "loop," the circular economy is moving from concept to concrete reality.

Milestone Unlocked: The Community Wash Hub is Live

We are thrilled to announce that Revino washing operations are officially a go! We’ve been incredibly busy processing glass for both Revino Ecosystem partners and other partners looking to reclaim their glass packaging. 

We’ve established our Community Wash Hub in McMinnville—the heart of wine country—sharing a space with our friends at Chapul Farms. This location puts us right in the backyard of many of our existing partners. 

While we are currently utilizing a smaller-scale washing machine (a key part of our roadmap to offer batch washing services to keep producers in glass), we are already processing containers and testing new labeling materials for the system. This hub isn’t just a facility; it’s a proof of concept for how localized, shared infrastructure can power a regional reuse network. 

We’re still working through logistics for standing the full-scale system, which will be able to process over 125,000 bottles per week! And, within this first Quarter, we've collected back more bottles than in our first two years. Returns are rolling in, and successful education programs have launched with ecosystem partners, proving that returns incentivize visits and purchases in tasting rooms. 

The First Loop: A Success Story with Silver Oak

We recently celebrated a massive milestone: the first washed glass bottles have been returned and are now on their second use cycle.

To make this happen, we partnered with Silver Oak in California to help them reclaim their existing glass. By collecting bottles poured on-site in their tasting rooms, we completed a pilot program washing their specific Bordeaux mold.

We collected half a pallet of bottles, processed them at our community washing hub, and conducted rigorous wash-and-label testing, followed by a light inspection. Once we delivered the glass, we performed ATP testing on-site during the return. The result? A score of 1. (For context, anything below a 7 is typically considered food-safe). We also do ATP testing at our washing hub and have seen scores as low as 0 following a washing and repacking cycle. 

Seeing these bottles undergo cleaning and inspection before heading back to the winery to be filled again is the ultimate "proof of concept." It’s a tangible win for the environment and a testament to the wineries choosing to move away from single-use glass. Every completed loop saves energy, reduces carbon emissions, and keeps valuable resources out of the landfill.

A New Icon for a New Era: The Universal Reuse Symbol

While the official public release isn’t until June, we’re thrilled to share this with our community: The Standardized Reuse Symbol. (For the U.S. and Canada)

Did you know that both Adam Rack and Callie Edwards from Revino serve on a panel called PR3, a group of Reuse Professionals from across the world working to create standards for Reuse and support the industry? Just as the recycling symbol became a global shorthand for "don't throw this away," this new icon is designed to signal a higher standard. You’ll soon see it on our bottles and across our network. It tells the consumer: "This bottle is part of a system. It has a home to return to." By incorporating this symbol today, we are helping build the visual language of a world where "disposable" is a thing of the past. By quantifying the impact of every wash and refill, we aren't just telling a story about sustainability—we’re proving it with hard data. We even have some partners who have already implemented the symbol on their labels, preparing the summer wine releases. (You can find the updated designs in our Toolkit.)

Join the Movement

Earth Month is a wonderful time to reflect on our habits, but the #ReuseRevolution is about what happens every day of the year. It’s about building the habitual changes that protect the land on which our wine is grown.

Whether you’re a winery partner switching to returnables or a consumer looking for the Revino leaf on the shelf, thank you for being a part of this revolution. 

Stay tuned for even more exciting updates in May as we celebrate Oregon Wine Month!