In a study published on Monday, a team from the University of South Australia (UniSA) and the University of Adelaide found that the production and transport of glass bottles accounts for more than two-thirds of the wine industry's total carbon footprint. According to their research, the production of a single glass wine bottle produces 1.25kg of carbon dioxide. Their unique shape also means they take up more space and require more fuel to transport. "If we could find another way to solve the (bottling) process, we would be looking at a much more carbon-efficient wine industry," Jakob Mesidis, the lead researcher on the project at UniSA, told the Australian Associated Press. Alternative wine containers include barrels, cans and plastic bottles, all of which can be transported more efficiently and are easier to recycle. A survey of 1,200 people conducted by Mesidis and his colleagues found that consumers prefer glass wine bottles, which they associate with tradition and prestige, over alternatives. (Xinhua)