This development marks an exciting step in Bijou’s commitment to cutting carbon emissions across the wine supply chain, helping partners worldwide meet their sustainability goals while maintaining the award-winning quality of their rosé and iconic bottle shape, now enjoyed in more than 50 countries around the world. In 2025, Bijou demonstrated the strongest volume growth of all wine brands over £8.50 in the UK, adding almost 50,000 9L cases over the 52-week period, underlining the demand for premium, sustainably-driven wines.
Research from the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) indicates that glass bottles contribute to around half of a wine’s total carbon footprint, and transporting them from vineyards to markets around the world adds further environmental challenges.2 To tackle these issues, Bijou has teamed up with Saverglass, a premium glass manufacturer based close to the winery in the Languedoc. This local production approach minimises the need to transport empty glass over long distances, reducing overall emissions. Alongside innovative packaging solutions, Bijou sources 100% of its grapes from Organic or HVE3 Certified vineyards, prioritising biodiversity and sustainable wine production throughout every stage of the winemaking process.
The new 410g 75cl bottle comes in below the 420g target set by the SWR Bottle Weight Accord. By cutting 30g of glass from each bottle, Bijou projects it will strip out around 92 tonnes of glass from its 2026 supply chain, which is equivalent to about 22,000 fewer bottles before they reach partners. This innovation builds on Bijou’s journey away from the heavier Estella bottle (640g) in 2022, an initial step that reduced weight across the producer’s best-selling Le Bijou de Sophie Valrose range and opened up opportunities for further lightweighting across the portfolio.
Edward Vellacott, Managing Director of Bijou, said: “The decisions made when wines are selected for ranges and lists can have a huge impact on the carbon footprint of the whole supply chain. Collaborating with partners who are open to exploring lighter glass and alternative formats means we can gradually move towards lasting, scalable change across the category.”
The lightweight flute will be launched in the UK from March 2026 in partnership with Waitrose, followed by launches with additional partners, including Norway’s monopoly market and Coles in Australia, as well as other key markets over the following year.
As a founding member of the SWR, Waitrose has been at the forefront of sustainable packaging innovation. The retailer was among the first to roll out aluminium cans for its mini wine range in 2022, including Bijou Le Chic Rosé Cans, and pioneered Bijou Le Chic 1.5L Pouches in 2019, offering customers more eco-friendly and convenient options.
Nicola Jones, Wine Trading Manager at Waitrose, said: “We’re delighted to work with Bijou on this pioneering initiative. Lightweight glass is one of the most effective changes we can make to cut carbon emissions in the wine sector, and this launch reflects our shared commitment to providing more sustainable choices for our customers and the planet.”
In Norway, the introduction of the lightweight flute bottle will directly support the country’s updated monopoly sustainability regulations, which come into effect later this year. Monica Andersen, Business Director Wine at HaugenGruppen, added: “Bijou’s commitment to innovation is exactly what the industry needs as it adapts to the new sustainability requirements, arriving just in time for the new monopoly regulations.”
Bijou will showcase this breakthrough innovation for the first time at Wine Paris 2026 (Hall 7.2, Stand P279), offering the trade an opportunity to see the bottle first-hand and discuss its sustainability credentials and implementation across different markets.
Wine Paris visitors can book an appointment with the Bijou team by emailing minna@bijouwine.com