Green Fibre Bottle - The next step on the journey.
Simon Boas Hoffmeyer
VP, Global Head of Sustainability & ESG hos Carlsberg Group | Sustainability Strategy | ESG | Regenerative Agriculture | Packaging | FMCG | CSRD |
We are a lot of people that have been waiting to share this update with you.
Not only are we a step closer to creating the world’s first ‘paper’ beer bottle made from sustainably-sourced wood fibres, we are also happy to see the creation of Paboco, The Paper Bottle Company, and announce that more leading companies are now committing to join a paper bottle community united in our joint vision of developing sustainable packaging through the advancement of paper bottle technology.
NEW: Short video from the release:
Two new prototypes The two new research prototypes are made from sustainably-sourced wood fibre, are fully recyclable and have an inner barrier to allow the bottles to contain beer. One prototype uses a thin recycled PET polymer film barrier, and the other a 100% bio-based PEF polymer film barrier. These prototypes will be used to test the barrier technology as Carlsberg seeks a solution to achieve their ultimate ambition of a 100% bio-based bottle without polymers.
We’re not fully there yet, but have taken a great step in the right direction and these developments are a continuation of our sustainable packaging innovation journey and a key part of our sustainability programme, Together Towards ZERO, including our commitment to ZERO carbon emissions at our breweries and a 30% reduction in our full value chain carbon footprint by 2030.
Welcome Paboco - New partners onboard
We kicked off the project to develop a bottle made from sustainably sourced wood fibres, the ‘Green Fibre Bottle’, in 2015 alongside innovation experts ecoXpac, packaging company BillerudKorsnäs, and PHD researchers from the Danish Technical University, supported by Innovation Fund Denmark.
These combined efforts have resulted in the emergence of Paboco®, the Paper Bottle Company – a joint venture between BillerudKorsnäs and bottle manufacturing specialist Alpla.
We will now further be joined by The Coca-Cola Company, The Absolut Company and L’Oréal in a paper bottle community – launched today by Paboco®. The community unites these leading global companies and experts with the vision of advancing sustainable packaging, offering high-quality products while reducing their environmental impact.
A constant pursuit of better
Our focus on sustainable packaging innovations is not new. In 2018, we launched a number of packaging innovations including recycled shrink film, greener label ink and the innovative ‘Snap Pack’, which replaces the plastic wrapping around our six-packs with a solution that instead glues cans together (read my previous post on these for more information).
It feels great to work in a company that continues to challenge status quo, and bring about new challenging sustainability innovations, that can benefit not only us and beer lovers around the world, but also other industries and products. This is true sustainability.
Cant wait to further test the research prototypes with consumers in the coming years, in order to scale the Green Fibre Bottle and bring it to consumer around the world!
Do we have some way to go? Probably.
Cheers,
Simon
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Designer, Strategist & Facilitator
6yIt's an interesting development and a step in the right direction. Being fully recyclable and being actually recycled en-mass are two totally different things and if we want a greener cleaner world the latter should be our primary focus . . . otherwise its just green-washing, which is ultimately in nobodies interests. I wonder how many bottles with the PET liner will actually be recycled? The second lining option (PEF, natural, plant-based and gas-tight) sounds more promising if it industrially compostable? Why can't all food packaging be reusable or industrially compostable? If the objective is to reduce embodied energy, emissions and waste wouldn't a better idea be for brands to stick with the glass bottles and have vending machines that offer deposit return on the empties? They could have a scanner that gives a smaller payout if the bottle is chipped or another brands. You could even go one step further and get your bottle cleaned, chilled & refilled at a discounted rate over buying a new one.
Organizational Learning and Development || Talent + Engagement || Leadership Development || Executive Coaching
6yDan Lassen
The Comms & Influence Gym | Philip Morris International
6yI would like to see a peer-reviewed environmental footprint study on this before I say bravo. Wood or paper wrapped in plastic coating? Not convinced this is the way to go. Multimaterial packaging is hard to recycle. Pringles packaging for instance is a recycling nightmare. It contains paper, aluminum and plastics.
Innovation | CX | New Product Development | Digital Strategist
6yI would be interested to understand if this tech could transfer to home care products.. detergents, cleaning formulation etc...
Business Consultant at Arlani Sales & Marketing
6yHi Simon This is an excellent step, particularly if there is ultimately a way of replacing the PET inner barrier with a more environmentally friendly option. I hope that the label on the bottle is one of our fully recyclable wet glue paper labels that we supply to your UK brewery! Regards Steve