From 0 to 30% recycled glass: Champagne introduces a more sustainable clear bottle

Reducing the carbon footprint of glass bottles primarily involves addressing the energy mix”, stresses Hadrien Mouflard, managing director of Ayala Champagne (owned by Bollinger) which is based in Aÿ (Marne). The company has been focusing on this issue for several years, working with glass manufacturer Verallia to produce a more sustainable clear bottle. Of the 1 million bottles sold by Ayala annually, 10% of production is bottled in clear bottles, namely the Blanc de Blancs, one of the company’s iconic labels. In June 2025, the cuvee was bottled using the new bottle that was made in Cognac in the first 100% electric furnace dedicated to producing glass for drinks. Recycling – which is the weak link in the clear bottle chain – has been incorporated into the bottle’s design. “The previous extra clear bottle featured no recycled glass at all”, adds Mouflard. “The new bottle with its clear tint contains 30%”. Use of an electric furnace and, to a lesser degree, recycling, reduces carbon footprint by 60%.

Although use of an electric furnace was Ayala’s primary objective, work has also focused on reducing bottle weight, which has dropped from 870g to 820g. In 2026, the weight of the clear bottle will drop to 800g. The 50g decrease reduces CO2 emissions by 5.7%. The carbon footprint for the new bottle has been reduced by approximately 66%.

The bottles will not entail any extra costs for Ayala. “Our aim is that sustainability comes with a return on investment”, concludes Mouflard. The new clear bottles should be released into the market over the next four to five years.