Rémy Cointreau redesigns its bottles to cut environmental impact

Rémy Cointreau leverages strategic collaborations and glass innovations to redesign its bottles and reduce their environmental impact

Environmental concerns are at the heart of Rémy Cointreau’s DNA. The group, whose ambition is to become the leader in exceptional spirits, follows a long-term vision led by its “Sustainable Exception” CSR roadmap. This transformation plan contains key initiatives such as using renewable energy, eco-designing packaging, and exploring glass circularity.

Glass is at the center of product development for Rémy Cointreau’s spirits. Its glass bottles represent 70-80% of the carbon footprint generated by the packaging. This is why Rémy Cointreau is partnering with top players in the glass industry to review its whole portfolio with the ultimate goal of having the entirety of bottles being eco-designed and recyclable (or reusable).

A “3 Rs” approach is followed regarding its packaging revamp: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. This is applied through several methods, such as bottle lightweighting or the use of innovative furnaces, which help reduce the carbon impact.

Rémy Cointreau does so, as a commitment to its values “Terroir, People and Time” and as a promise to keep delivering the best products in the best packaging possible for its consumers. Nowadays, consumers are also increasingly voicing their expectations for more sustainable products, with less environmental impact, and it has even become a real factor while making purchasing decisions.

“Rémy Cointreau’s ambition to become the leader of exceptional spirits is intimately tied to sustainable growth. Therefore, collective innovation, strategic partnerships and integration of CSR in each of our processes are key in the Group’s CSR journey.” – Mélanie Bulourde, Group Chief Operations and CSR Officer at Rémy Cointreau.

METAXA, the original Greek spirit, collaborates with premium glass manufacturer Hrastnik1860 (Vaider Group)

Precious spirits need the right packaging. When The House of Metaxa (one of Rémy Cointreau’s brands) released a new edition of one of its most premium amber spirits, the brand turned to Hrastnik1860 (member of Vaider Group), a glass manufacturer rich with more than 160 years of expertise. As part of the Group’s efforts to reduce their CO₂ emissions, the packaging of Metaxa Angels’ Treasure Single Cask Strength was redesigned. The new decanters were produced following an innovative production method developed by partner Hrastnik1860 (member of Vaider Group) using a hydrogen retrofitted oxyfuel furnace, thus allowing a 40% reduction for each decanter compared to the previous edition.

Photo by Hrastnik1860

This production was one of the first ever commercial uses of hydrogen in the glass packaging industry and consisted in replacing more than 60% of natural gas by hydrogen. 15,000 decanters of METAXA Angel’s Treasure were produced using this process in November/December 2023. On top of this, the environmental footprint of the packaging was further reduced, as the decanters were lightened, using less glass (7.6% lighter). This new decanter allowed customers to enjoy a sleeker, elegant design, while appreciating the sustainable commitment of the brand.

Building bridges to foster sustainable innovation: Rémy Cointreau partners with Verallia

Rémy Cointreau also started a partnership with Verallia, Europe’s leading producer and third-largest producer of glass packaging for food and beverage products in the world, to launch weight reduction projects across its entire portfolio. More precisely, both companies have made a joint commitment to using lighter bottles and more recycled glass.

This partnership is the continuation of a long-standing collaboration, as Verallia France has been producing the iconic bottle Cointreau l’Unique since 1943, almost 80 years… Positive results of this collaboration can already be seen. Rémy Martin VSOP cognac and Cointreau orange liqueur, now contain more than 75% of cullet (recycled glass) thanks to the increase in the percentage of cullet used in Verallia’s furnaces that has enabled Rémy Cointreau to significantly reduce the environmental impact of its spirits bottles.

In addition, three of their spirits brands – Mount Gay rum, St-Rémy brandy, and Belle de Brillet liqueur – have also achieved impressive glass weight reductions, ranging from 2% to 11% less. These reductions not only contribute to lower emissions associated with glass production but also lessen the carbon footprint tied to bottle transportation.

Additionally, Verallia continuously seeks to innovate. In 2024, Verallia inaugurated the world’s 1st 100% electric furnace for food packaging glass in Cognac, France. This technological feat is a major step forward for the industry decarbonizing, as it reduces by 60% the CO₂ emissions and represents new opportunities for Rémy Cointreau to further develop sustainable projects, notably with their century-old cognac house Rémy Martin.

Electric furnace – Copyrights Verallia 2024

Overall, Rémy Cointreau believes that reducing the environmental footprint of their bottles over time can only come about as a joint effort, with the right glass partners.

In 2024/25, 72% of its products benefitted from eco-design measures, and it is aiming for 84% in the next fiscal year. With all these efforts, the Group strives to achieve “net zero” by 2050 and to meet the expectations of today’s more eco-conscious consumers.

In a time where consumers and brands alike demand both quality and responsibility, glass packaging is emerging as the ultimate choice for brands and retailers seeking premium appeal and sustainable solutions for their products. With its ability to deliver unique designs, and the industry’s efforts for even more innovative solutions addressing concerns about weight and environmental impact, glass packaging goes beyond functionality to create an impactful brand identity. Read our case studies to explore the unique advantages of glass packaging across key sectors.

Author: Mélanie Bulourde began her career in the automotive industry sector between 2005 and 2013 after which she worked in the aeronautics sector. Her career continued in 2017 within the PSA group, where she held various positions in industrial management before being appointed head of the supply chain for the Europe & Eurasia regions, during the creation of Stellantis. Mélanie Bulourde is currently Group Chief Operations and CSR Officer at Rémy Cointreau since March 2024.

About Rémy Cointreau: All around the world, there are clients seeking exceptional experiences; clients for whom a wide range of terroirs means a variety of flavors. Their exacting standards are proportional to our expertise – the finely-honed skills that we pass down from generation to generation. The time these clients devote to drinking our products is a tribute to all those who have worked to develop them. It is for these men and women that Rémy Cointreau, a family-owned French Group, protects its terroirs, cultivates exceptional multi-centenary spirits and undertakes to preserve their eternal modernity. The Group’s portfolio includes 14 singular brands, such as the Rémy Martin and LOUIS XIII cognacs, and Cointreau liqueur. Rémy Cointreau has a single ambition: becoming the world leader in exceptional spirits. To this end, it relies on the commitment and creativity of its 1,856 employees and on its distribution subsidiaries established in the Group’s strategic markets. Rémy Cointreau is listed on Euronext Paris.