Champagne Telmont, based in Damery in the Marne Valley, is celebrating its fifth year as an official partner of the Cannes Film Festival by introducing a new, lighter 800g bottle of its Champagne. This innovative bottle, developed in cooperation with glassmaker Verallia, represents the company’s first significant shift in packaging since the industry standard was reduced to 835g in 2011.
The motivation behind the lighter bottles stems from environmental concerns. The Champagne region has a significant carbon footprint associated with packaging, with bottles accounting for 24% of Telmont’s total emissions, while the region averages 32%. The lighter 800g bottles aim to lessen these emissions, aligning with Telmont’s strategic goal to become a net positive producer by 2050.
Telmont has set firm targets for carbon neutrality and climate positivity by 2030. This commitment entails absorbing or offsetting more greenhouse gases than the company emits. The producer is opting for classic bottle shapes refined for strength and lightness, avoiding the elaborate shapes and packaging often associated with Champagne, which can increase weight and carbon emissions.
The move to lighter bottles is just one aspect of Telmont’s sustainability strategy, which also includes increasing the use of recycled materials. A transition to bottles made from 87% recycled glass is expected to reduce scope 3 emissions by 19.3% by 2030, with a further decrease as the recycled content is increased to 90%.
With major shareholder Rémy Cointreau backing its initiatives, Telmont is positioning itself as a leader in sustainability within the Champagne industry. The new lightweight bottle aims to fulfill the dual objective of innovation and environmental responsibility, showcasing the producer’s commitment to a more sustainable future in winemaking.