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Respecting the value of time

Respecting the value of time

Our challenges

Distillery Cointreau

Our challenges

TIME FORMS PART OF BOTH THE HOUSE OF COINTREAU’S EPIC TALE AND THE CREATION OF THE EPONYMOUS LIQUEUR. 

Time is needed to ensure that the sun-drenched oranges reach their full potential, then comes the time for the peel to be dried, and lastly the time for distillation to extract the heart of the liqueur.
For more than 170 years, the House of Cointreau’s expertise has been handed down from one generation to the next. This heritage requires us to set an example – in protecting natural resources and in combatting climate change with an ongoing reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. We undertake our actions at three levels based on the principle of circular economy* – reduce, reuse and recycle. Using the sum of these measures, we want to contribute to the targets set by Rémy Cointreau Group to reduce carbon emissions per bottle by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero carbon by 2050.

 

 

Our commitments

  • Protecting water resources

    Protecting water resources

    Various initiatives have been implemented at the Angers distillery to optimise the use of water, a priceless and fragile resource. Since 1997, water consumption has been reduced by 45%. At that time, 1.8 litres of water was needed to produce 1 litre of liqueur; today, the ratio is 1 litre of water for 1 litre of liqueur.
    In addition, wastewater from the production site is pre-treated onsite before being sent to the treatment plant managed by Angers Loire Métropole council.

  • Cointreau orange peels

    Sorting and recycling our waste

    100% of waste (glass, cardboard, wood and plastic) produced each year at the Angers site is now sorted and recycled with 97% of materials recycled and 3% used in energy production.
    In terms of the fruit, we collect the peel, 60% of which is now recycled by our partners to produce orange juice and candied fruit. It can also be turned into animal feed. All the peel used during distillation is composted.
    Lastly, a proportion of the terpenes* – the molecules with fragrant properties present in orange essence – are re-used by the perfume industry.

  • Choosing renewable energy

    Choosing renewable energy

    Since 2017, our Angers site has functioned entirely using green electricity, and since 2021 the gas boilers used for distillation have been fuelled by biogas derived from anaerobic digestion. Opting for renewable energy has enabled us to reduce our CO2 emissions in our bottling and distillation operations by almost 90% since that time.

  • Transportation with fewer GHG³ emissions

    Transportation with fewer GHG* emissions

    The carbon assessment conducted in 2020/2021 by Rémy Cointreau Group established that 20% of greenhouse gas emissions of the House of Cointreau relate to the transportation of raw materials to the distillery and bottles to consumers.
    The House now systematically opts for the lowest impact transport options – maritime transport, followed by rail, and lastly road transport, with air transport eliminated.
    In parallel, the House continues to research and support innovative alternatives, such as the low carbon maritime transport service with hybrid cargo which, by 2024, will connect France to the United States. Lastly, local supply chains are prioritised – for example, glass bottles and crates for transportation are provided by suppliers based in France.

THE COINTREAU L’UNIQUE BOTTLE: ADDRESSING A TECHNICAL CHALLENGE

Cointreau l'unique

THE COINTREAU L’UNIQUE BOTTLE: ADDRESSING A TECHNICAL CHALLENGE

It is a major factor in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Around 19 million amber glass bottles are produced each year by our longstanding glassmaker partnerto contain our liqueur. They have been eco-designed using two thirds recycled glass, which is a genuine technical challenge given the limited availability of recycled glass in France.  
Research is ongoing to find solutions that will help increase this percentage whilst simultaneously reducing the weight of our bottles, which is already optimised to the limit. The weight of the new Cointreau L’Unique bottle, launched globally in 2022, remains unchanged despite its longer neck.
In addition, we prioritise the use of mono-materials to facilitate recycling and have stopped using secondary packaging around bottles.
New avenues are currently under consideration. 

Discover more about Cointreau l'Unique