Moët & Chandon, owned by LVMH, is working with Amcor Capsules on the development and launch in October of a plastic-free foil made of aluminum and paper.

The Essentielle foil is created using paper made in Europe, a material that has a lower carbon impact than other solutions on the market made of plastic. Indeed, by replacing plastic with paper the carbon footprint of this product is 31% lower compared to standard polylaminate foils.

In addition, Essentielle contains about 60% aluminum, a recyclable material which remains unchanged. The recyclability of aluminium is attested by the TREE assessment tool by Citeo, when combined with glass recycling in France. Aluminium also retains the product’s aesthetic properties. It fits the bottle perfectly and can be customized according to market requirements.

A key element of this innovation is that Amcor Capsules guarantees that its customers bottling and packaging process, as well as its productivity is unchanged. And, as the world’s biggest producer of Champagne, with production lines capable of handling more than 12,000 bottles per hour; productivity is a top priority for Moët & Chandon.

“The launch of the Essentielle plastic-free foil draws attention to the expertise at our Mareuil-sur-Aÿ site, which specializes in the manufacture of foils and is located in the heart of the Champagne region," said Yannick Magnon, Managing Director of Amcor Capsules. "Amcor Capsules is drawing on Essentielle to revolutionize the industry by offering a recyclable, plastic-free solution that suits the fast pace of their packaging lines, confirming its major role among wine-growing players, here in Champagne.”

This innovation takes part in Amcor Capsules’ Transparence program that was developed in July 2023 to reduce its environmental impact. Transparence has already allowed Amcor Capsules to integrate more than 90% recycled tin in capsules and sparkling foil, as well as incorporating up to 46% recycled aluminum in screw caps for the still wine and spirits’ segment, the company said.

Essentielle also rises to the challenges faced by the world of Champagne and sparkling wine, which is moving towards more responsible solutions.

The Essentielle foil will be produced at the Mareuil-sur-Aÿ site in Champagne beginning in October. Initially, the solution will only be available with texturing (standard or customizable) to allow sparkling wine players to retain the premium look of their bottles and the productivity of their packaging lines. The Essentielle foil with a smooth finish will be available during the first quarter of 2025.