Verallia France restarts the furnace at its Chalon-sur-Saône plant and announces it is now operating at 100% of its production capacity to serve all its customers

Verallia France, a subsidiary of the Verallia Group — the European leader and the world’s third-largest producer of glass packaging for beverages and food products — has announced the completion of renovation work and the restart of Furnace 1 at its Chalon-sur-Saône glassworks. This investment is part of the Group’s strategy for industrial modernization and decarbonization, enabling its largest plant to sustainably strengthen both its performance and its local presence.

A "super boosted" furnace for more sustainable production

Following the partial renovation of Furnace 3 in 2022, the complete overhaul of Furnace 1 at the Chalon-sur-Saône site marks a key milestone in the modernization plan for this flagship plant in the Chalon region. Specialized in the production of white glass, Furnace 1 manufactures iconic bottles for the Burgundy and Bordeaux regions, as well as specialty bottles for the spirits, still wine, and food markets, distributed locally, nationally, and internationally.

Thanks to this modernization, the furnace now benefits from a "super boosted" technology that increases the share of electricity in its energy mix. Electricity now accounts for 25%, reducing natural gas consumption to 75%. This shift enables the Chalon-sur-Saône site to cut its CO₂ emissions by 11%, while also increasing its electric melting power.

Johanna Lascaux, Director of the Chalon-sur-Saône plant, emphasizes:
"The complete renovation and restart of Furnace 1 reflect our commitment to sustainably modernizing our industrial facilities while accelerating our energy transition. This restart demonstrates our dedication to reducing the environmental impact of our production, while ensuring the competitiveness and long-term future of our historic site."

This initiative aligns fully with Verallia Group’s overall decarbonization strategy, which aims for a 46% reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2030, driven by the deployment of two breakthrough technologies: 100% electric furnaces — like the one inaugurated in Cognac in September 2024 — and hybrid furnaces, planned for Spain by the end of 2025 and for Saint-Romain-Le-Puy in 2026, expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by 60% and 50% respectively.

Chalon-sur-Saône Glassworks: 113 years of local roots and industrial expertise

Built in 1912, the Chalon-sur-Saône site is now Verallia’s largest factory. With 500 employees and three furnaces, the plant produces nearly one billion bottles each year. Renowned for its expertise in white glass, it also manufactures the iconic “dead leaf” color, characteristic of Burgundy wines.

The Chalon-sur-Saône glassworks stands as a key economic player in the region thanks to its production capacity and its contribution to industrial innovation. The site is home to Verallia France’s glass training center and the Group’s technical centers, where 150 experts work on future technological challenges — especially those related to reducing CO₂ emissions and developing the glass industry solutions of tomorrow.

Après 9 mois de rénovation, le Four 1 de Chalon-sur-Saône est à nouveau en activité🔥

Ce four spécialisé dans la production de verre blanc pour les bouteilles de Bourgogne, de Bordeaux,  pour les spiritueux et vins tranquilles ainsi  que pour les produits alimentaires a bénéficié d’une rénovation totale pour améliorer sa performance.

Cette modernisation a été l’occasion de réduire l’empreinte environnementale du four puisqu’il est désormais équipé d’une technologie « super boostée » augmentant la part d’électricité dans son mix énergétique. 🌍

🚀Ce redémarrage marque un moment important pour Verallia France car tous nos fours sont en fonctionnement et notre outil de production fonctionne à 100% de ses capacités.