For nearly three centuries, the Maison Ruinart has been committed to providing an authentic, essential and responsible vision of the art de vivre. In 2020, Ruinart breaks with the tradition of individual gift boxes and pushes beyond its global and environmental approach with the second skin case. This eco-sustainable packaging fits perfectly with the emblematic silhouette of the Maison’s exclusive and unmistakable bottle, maintaining the integrity of the Ruinart taste until the moment of tasting.
By revolutionizing packaging, Maison Ruinart puts its leadership at the service of sustainable development: while a large gift box made sense in the past, a fully recyclable wrapper made of 100% natural wood fibers is more suited to our times. The sustainable innovation of the second skin case enhances the return to nature and the natural: thus it aims to reduce waste and recycle materials without distorting the experience or taste.
In homage to the Crayères, this minimalist paper wrap has a silky textured surface that evokes the Maison’s historic cellars in Reims. A tribute that suggests a new gesture, a disruptive materiality and at the same time an aesthetic that reflect a commitment to the conscious art de vivre. Today, Ruinart is rewriting the rules An unprecedented innovation in packaging, the second skin case reveals a revolutionary and responsible approach from an environmental point of view. It is the result of two years of dialogue between the teams of the Maison Ruinart and its production partners, Pusterla 1880 and James Cropper. Together, they focused their efforts on one material – cellulose fibers, or cellulose paper – thus solving two technological challenges. The first challenge was to make the casing impermeable to any type of light that could alter the wine, particularly in clear glass bottles. Paper alone was not sufficient protection to filter out all the waves in the spectrum. A new technique was then developed to enrich the cellulose mix with a natural metal oxide, which reinforced the opacity by adding a protective layer.The second challenge was to ensure that the casing protected the wine until the moment of tasting, while remaining resistant to serving uses (including contact with water) without deteriorating.
Suitable for refrigerated storage, the wrapper maintains its integrity for several hours when placed in an ice bucket. Ruinart perpetuates his own definition of the art de vivre through a new series of gestures.Altogether, seven prototypes were needed to arrive at this cellulose fiber wrap, which wraps around the bottle’s contours while preserving the integrity of the Ruinart taste.For 10 years, Ruinart has progressively implemented a global eco-design practice: an internal “Environmental Sustainability Index” (IPE) measures the impact of all projects, including packaging, as well as visibility services and tools. The development of the second skin case is part of this global approach.
The second skin case was developed in an exceptional environment, where testing and innovation abound. In the beginning, the primary characteristics were determined thanks to digital modeling; later, molds with engravings of unique details were developed. These are then immersed in baths of a mixture of liquid cellulose, subjected to processing to group the fibers and form a three-dimensional white paper envelope. The result is obtained without the use of plastic or glue. During sealing, the monoblock perfectly follows the shape of the bottle and is embellished with elegant finishes that recall the Ruinart heritage.The wrapper is assembled by hand in the extraordinary territory of Champagne: it wraps each precious bottle like a second skin.
For Ruinart, sustainability is a must: viticulture is a long-term commitment. Thanks to the combination of grape varieties, crus and vintage, the chef de caves composes different cuvées year after year. The process is long: sometimes more than a decade passes from harvest to tasting. Ten years ago, Ruinart decided to extend this method to all production.
A global approach is essential: whether it’s transportation, packaging solutions or the choice of passionate artists for a collaboration, every aspect is taken into consideration. At the Maison Ruinart headquarters in Reims, 98.7% of all waste is reused and all by-products of the winemaking process are 100% recycled. By inventing the second skin case, Ruinart offers a sustainable alternative to an entire industry and helps raise awareness. The Maison hopes to be able to open a dialogue with the general public by contributing to the evolution of more conscious behavior on the part of industry and consumers.
Collective intelligence is essential to address these challenges.
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