UK– British multinational alcoholic beverages company, Diageo has created the world’s first ever 100% plastic free paper-based spirits bottle, made entirely from sustainably sourced wood and expected to be fully recyclable.
According to the company, the bottle will debut with Johnnie Walker in early 2021.
The scalable bottle was developed by Pulpex, a new sustainable packaging technology company launched through a partnership between Diageo and venture management firm, Pilot Lite.
“We’re proud to have created this world first. We are constantly striving to push the boundaries within sustainable packaging and this bottle has the potential to be truly ground-breaking.
“It feels fitting that we should launch it with Johnnie Walker, a brand that has often led the way in innovation throughout its 200 years existence,” said Ewan Andrew Chief Sustainability Officer, Diageo PLC
The packaging has been designed to contain a variety of liquid products and will form part of Diageo’s commitment towards Goal 12 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: ‘Responsible Consumption and Production’.
To ensure that the technology can be used in every area of life, Pulpex Limited has established a partner consortium of world leading FMCG companies in non-competing categories including Unilever, and PepsiCo, with further partners expected to be announced later in the year.
The consortium partners are each expecting to launch their own branded paper bottles, based on Pulpex Limited’s design and technology, in 2021.
The bottle is made from sustainably sourced pulp to meet food-safe standards and will be fully recyclable in standard waste streams.
The technology will allow brands to rethink their packaging designs, or move existing designs into paper, whilst not compromising on the existing quality of the product.
Pulpex Limited’s technology allows it to produce a variety of plastic-free, single mould bottles that can be used across a range of consumer goods.
“We’re thrilled to be working with global brand leaders in this consortium,” said Pilot Lite director, Sandy Westwater.
“By working together, we can use the collective power of the brands to help minimise the environmental footprint of packaging by changing manufacturing and consumer behaviours.”
Simon Lowden, chief sustainability officer at PepsiCo, added: “Innovative solutions and partnerships are critical to driving meaningful progress toward a circular economy.
“The Pulpex consortium is well positioned to deliver sustainable packaging at scale and across industries, having impact beyond what any organisation could achieve alone. We’re proud to be a part of it.”
Earlier this month, UK-based packaging manufacturer Frugalpac unveiled a fully-recyclable paper-based bottle. Designed to hold wine, the Frugal Bottle is made from 94% recycled paperboard with a food-grade plastic liner.
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