To cut down on waste, Champagne Telmont's new bottles come in 193,000 shades of green

When glassmakers switch from one color to another, the in-between glass doesn't quite match the desired shade of either batch. What could have been made into usable bottles or jars is flung from the furnace and even if the material is recycled, too much energy, resources and time are lost in the process.

It's a wasteful practice Champagne Telmont no longer contributes to. Starting this year, the Damery-based house will accept all shades that emerge when glass manufacturer Verallia transitions from a previous color to the standard tint used for Telmont. The result? Annually, 193,000 bottles will be sold in one-of-a-kind shades ranging 'from green to cinnamon.'

This isn't Telmont's first foray into sustainability. Last year, it worked with Verallia to develop a champagne bottle weighing 800 grams. That's 35 less than what's typically used, and not an easy feat since a champagne bottle holds more pressure than a car tire. Telmont also stopped selling champagne in gift boxes (too much waste), forbids distribution of its bubbly beverage by airplane and is transitioning all of its vineyards to 100% certified organic.