LAGOS – Diageo, one of the world’s largest producers of spirits and beers, has announced that it has created the world’s first-ever 100 percent plastic free paper-based spirits bottle.
The announcement stated that the bottle was entirely made from sustainably sourced wood and will be fully recyclable in standard waste streams. The latest innovation is billed to debut with Johnnie Walker, the world’s leading Scotch whisky, in early 2021.
Diageo stated that the innovative bottle was a product of a team work with Pilot Lite, a venture management company to launch Pulpex Limited, a new world-leading sustainable packaging technology company.
“Pulpex Limited, Diageo’s new business line, the company said: “was aimed at sustainable packaging development for major food and drinks manufacturers like Unilever, PepsiCo and other leading FMCG businesses.
“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.”
Giving more insights into the partnership, Chief Sustainability Officer, Diageo PLC, Mr. Ewan Andrew, said: “Pulpex Limited has developed a ‘first-of-its-kind’ scalable paper-based bottle designed and developed to be 100 percent 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’.
“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.”
Expectedly, the development has attracted various reactions from industry experts, following the development. While some described it as awesome, insightful, revolutionary and timely, others questioned the sustainability of using pulp against glass.