Diageo has created the world’s first ever 100% plastic free paper-based spirits bottle, made entirely from sustainably sourced wood which will be debut in early 2021. The bottle will debut with Johnnie Walker the world number one scotch whisky which traces its roots back 200 years.
Diageo, the drinks giant that owns the brand, said it plans to run a trial of the new environmentally-friendly packaging from next year. The Johnnie Walker product is currently sold in glass bottles. However, while glass bottle manufacturers are striving to make production more efficient, they still have a significant carbon footprint.
It has been created through a new partnership with Pilot Lite, a venture management company, to launch Pulpex Limited, a new world-leading sustainable packaging technology company. 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.
“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.” says Ewan Andrew, Chief Sustainability Office at Diageo PLC.
Pulpex Limited has developed a ‘first-of-its-kind’ scalable paper-based bottle designed and developed to be 100% plastic free and expected to be fully recyclable. 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. 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’.
Carlsberg also is in the process of developing a paper beer bottle. UK firm Frugalpac produces paper wine bottles which it says are made from recycled paper with a “food grade liner”. However, drinks giant Coca-Cola in January said it would not ditch single-use plastic bottles because consumers still want them.
Companies are coming under increasing pressure to reduce the amount of plastic in packaging as consumers increasingly focus on damage to ecosystems. In Europe alone, 8.2 million tonnes of plastic were used to package food and drink in 2018, according to ING analysts.
Diageo, which also makes Guinness and Smirnoff vodka, said it uses less than 5% of plastic in its total packaging. However, while glass bottle manufacturers are striving to make production more efficient, they still have a significant carbon footprint.
Source: www.bbc.com/news/business | www.diageo.com
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