In this year’s Best of the Best, we continue to honour the brands and people who have continued to create covetable products, even in the midst of a global pandemic. Here, we have Ruinart Champagne come out tops in sustainability in the wine and spirits category
For any brand mulling its carbon footprint, shipping eventually raises its polluting head. In wine, the problem is especially fraught; protection can’t be compromised in the name of sustainability. Ruinart toiled for two years, creating seven prototypes before devising a solution with an innovative second skin. The moulded paper shell serves as both a layer against the elements and an elegant dinner jacket. Made of cellulose fibres from eco-managed European forests, the skin is nine times lighter than previous gift boxes the wines were shipped in, which results in a 60 per cent reduction in carbon emissions. It’s recyclable, obviously, while also enhancing the bottle’s elegant sensibility.
Its preservation chops impress as much as the eco-friendly statistics. Wine needs safeguarding against light as well as bumps in the road. A new technique infused the cellulose with a natural metal oxide that reinforced opacity. The matte textured skin also resists water, maintaining its integrity in refrigerated shipping and even, for several hours, in a bucket of ice.
As befits a Champagne Maison, a discreet monogrammed button releases it into your grateful hands.
