Amcor Capsules, a market leader specialising in the design and manufacture of capsules, closures, and eco-responsible foils for still wines, sparkling wines, and spirits – is preparing to launch ESSENTIELLE, a plastic-free foil made of aluminium and paper, in October 2024.

With more than 280 years of history, Moët & Chandon, owned by LVMH, manages the largest vineyard in Champagne, with nearly 1,300 hectares of vines. The brand intends to continue its movement towards more sustainable packaging and is working with Amcor Capsules on the development and launch of its plastic-free foil.

The ESSENTIELLE foil is created using paper made in Europe, a material that has a lower carbon impact than other solutions made of plastic on the market. By replacing plastic by paper the carbon footprint of this product is 31%1 lower compared to standard polylaminate foils.

In addition, ESSENTIELLE contains approximately 60% aluminium, a recyclable material which remains unchanged.The recyclability of aluminium is attested by the TREE assessment tool by CITEO², when combined with glass recycling in France. Aluminium also retains the product’s aesthetic properties. It fits the bottle perfectly and can be customised 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 specialises in the manufacture of foils and is located in the heart of the Champagne region. Amcor Capsules is drawing on ESSENTIELLE to revolutionise 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.” – Yannick Magnon, Managing Director of Amcor Capsules

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 aluminium in screw caps for the still wine and spirits’ segment.

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

“At Moët et Chandon, we are proud to support and accelerate innovation within the Champagne sector. For over 10 years, we have been spearheading initiatives to reduce our environmental impact and cut carbon emissions. As such, our products are developed and analyzed to improve their environmental performance. Our goal for 2024 is to take this even further, and working with Amcor Capsules on the ESSENTIELLE foil reflects this commitment.. At Moët et Chandon, we believe we can do great things if we work together. Our collaboration on the ESSENTIELLE project with Amcor Capsules – a leader in its sector and our partner for the 15 years – is evidence of this belief” – Sibylle Scherer, President, CEO Maison Moët

The ESSENTIELLE foil will be produced at the Mareuil-sur-Aÿ site in Champagne from October 2024. Initially, the solution will only be available with texturing (standard or customisable) 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.Watch this video to learn more.