Recently, in a series of articles, the magazine Millevigne published by Vignaioli Piemontesi has explored the advantages, characteristics and critical issues related to the use of plastic in viticulture and oenology, with the aim of improving the knowledge and culture of the materials that companies in the sector use in their activities. Starting from the composition of plastics, the differences between the different polymers that determine their properties, up to the critical issues related to the risk of dispersion in the soil in the vineyard or the need to evaluate the food safety aspects of plastic material when used in the cellar or in packaging. At the same time, the world of the life cycle of plastic materials has been explored and virtuous examples of sustainable management or development of alternative materials have been highlighted. Following the enormous interest shown on the topic at SIMEI 2024, the fair for technologies, systems and innovation in the cellar, to which Millevigne contributed by organizing a workshop to discuss plastic in the vineyard and cellar, it was decided to propose and explore the topic in collaboration with Vignaioli Piemontesi in a conference that will be held on May 7 at the headquarters of Vignaioli Piemontesi, Via Alba 15 in Castagnito (CN).
“Plastic in the vineyard and in the cellar. Knowing it and managing it in a sustainable and responsible way” , curated by Alessandra Biondi Bartolini and Monica Massa , respectively scientific director and managing director of Millevigne, will lead participants to frame the theme of plastics used in the vineyard and in the cellar, the critical issues related to dispersion in the environment, pollution from microplastics and the aspects of food safety and quality control of plastic materials in contact with food.
Chemist and science communicator Simone Angioni , Luca Nizzetto, researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research, scientific director of the European Papillons project on Agroplastics, Elisa Pellegrini, researcher at the University of Udine and Cristina Mocchi , Food Contact Sector Manager of CSI SPA, will explain and update participants on the state of the art of scientific knowledge and technical and regulatory aspects.
A space will then be dedicated to the interventions of the partner companies Zeropack and Sabiomaterials.
In the second part of the meeting there will be a round table entitled “ Circular economy models and sustainability principles for sustainable use of materials in the vineyard and in the cellar ” where we will talk about development models, circular economy and new materials and where the protagonists will present cases of virtuous experiences of plastic management. Speakers will include Stefano Amadeo , agronomist and founder of Diversity Ark, Lucrezia Lamastra of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and coordinator of the technical-scientific committee of SOStain Sicilia, Enrico Sozzetti , journalist expert in economics and Cecilia Rocca producer and advisor of the Associazione l'Anello forte.
The event, free of charge, can be followed in person or remotely, after registering at the link: https://bookeo.com/vignaioli?devent=425534LC7FN195F60F1FFA_2025-05-07_Ih4WcTDOLu3s
