James Cropper, a global leader in advanced materials, luxury packaging and creative papers, has been awarded a Formes de Luxe trophy, and is one of the judges’ choices for the Luxe Pack in Green accolade, for its work with one of France’s most historic and distinctive champagne houses, Maison Perrier-Jouët.

James Cropper Paper Products worked with the champagne house to challenge the norms of luxury with the Belle Epoque Cocoon: an eco-designed gift box that seamlessly combines beauty and environmental commitment for the luxury market. It was created for Maison Perrier-Jouët’s vintage cuvées Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque and Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé.

Crafted from paper pulp and vine shoots, the Belle Epoque Cocoon is 93% lighter than the previous gift box and doesn’t include any varnish or glue. It is designed with only two natural materials; paper pulp prepared from FSC® approved sustainably managed forests and vine shoots from France. Further building on the design’s green credentials is the 100% renewable energy used in James Cropper’s Luxury Moulded Packaging production, with the majority of power being generated on site by its own solar and hydro plants.

In addition, the vine shoot inclusions are recovered after pruning at the end of winter, ensuring that this naturally derived agrifibre is given a second life and that the packaging is both recyclable with other paper products and circular in design. The upcycled vine shoots also provide a beautiful coloured speckled aesthetic to the finished gift box.

The award comes in a transformational year for James Cropper, which saw the the Group’s established Speciality Paper business combine with Colourform, the award-winning moulded pulp innovation to form the new Paper Products division, now led by Managing Director Richard Bracewell.