It's Labor Day, which means a lot of us are going to be outside, grilling whatever we can get our hands on, playing Frisbee (sometimes very badly), and toasting farewell to another summer gone by.
If beer just isn't going to cut it this time around, you may want to purchase yourself a bottle of bubbly – not just because it's oh so classy, but because the Champagne industry is finally going green in a big way.
According to the New York Times, the makers of Champagne have been investing about $1.3 million dollars since 1994 on "environmental initiatives, including research and testing of [a] lighter bottle."
The new, more compact shape doesn't look much different, but the 2.3 ounces less of glass being produced per bottle is a big step in the right direction for a quiet, discreet industry.
"Reducing their carbon footprint and energy use is also a great way to make their operations more financially viable, especially with the economy the way it is,” explains Euan Murray, an official at a nonprofit group that advises the government as well as businesses on global warning. And financially viable options are exactly what the delicate Champagne industry needs to thrive during a recession that has seen their sales drop from 5 billion euros annually to 3.7 billion.
So if you're a fan of the bubbly, it's really your duty this Labor Day to toast with a bottle or two. Champagne makers are doing their part to save the environment, and what we can do to help is…well…drink up!
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