Why Telmont is the King of Sustainability

Champagne talks a good game about sustainability. Lighter cartons here, recycled paper there, a solar panel on the roof for the annual report photo. But every once in a while, a producer does something that actually moves the needle. Champagne Telmont just did exactly that—and underscores why sustainability champion and actor Leonardo DiCaprio is investing in the company.  

Telmont has launched what is believed to be the lightest magnum Champagne bottle ever produced, weighing just 1,600 grams. That may sound like inside-baseball glass talk, but in a category where tradition often borders on stubbornness, this is a meaningful shift. The new magnum is roughly 130 grams lighter than a conventional version, fully compliant with Champagne regulations, and delivers the same pressure resistance, transport durability, and visual appeal. In other words: no compromises, no excuses.

The environmental impact is where things get interesting. By reducing bottle weight, Telmont cuts resource use during manufacturing, lowers fuel consumption during transport, and achieves nearly a 7.5% reduction in environmental impact per bottle. Multiply that across global distribution, large formats, and years of production, and that's how you get Leonardo DiCaprio to sign on as an investor.  

Earlier this year, the house introduced a lightweight 75cl Champagne bottle after three years of testing. That bottle is 35 grams lighter than the industry standard, and more than 635,000 have already been produced. This isn’t a pilot program or a limited eco-cuvée—it’s being rolled out across Telmont’s entire range. Format after format. Cuvée after cuvée.

Even more importantly, Telmont isn’t hoarding the innovation. The maison has made it clear that the new lightweight magnum is a non-exclusive development, available to any Champagne house willing to reduce its carbon footprint without changing equipment or production processes. That detail matters. Sustainability that only works if you’re rich, boutique, or willing to overhaul your entire operation isn’t sustainability—it’s marketing. Telmont is offering something scalable.

Ludovic du Plessis, President of Maison Telmont, summed it up bluntly: this proves it’s possible to push environmental commitment further without compromising quality or safety. He’s right. And the subtext is even more important—many producers simply haven’t tried hard enough.

This is what “walking the walk” looks like in wine. Not vague pledges. Not green labels. Not hashtags. Real engineering, real testing, real adoption, and real openness to sharing the solution with competitors. 

With backing from Rémy Cointreau and investors like Leonardo DiCaprio, Telmont certainly has visibility—but visibility only matters if it’s paired with action. In this case, it is. The wine industry loves to talk about legacy and stewardship. Telmont is proving that stewardship can be practical, measurable, and repeatable. The hope now is that others follow—not because it sounds good, but because the blueprint is sitting right in front of them.