Global alcohol beverage giant Diageo has created the world’s first 100 per cent plastic free paper-based spirits bottle.
Made entirely from sustainably sourced wood, it will debut with Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky early next year.
Ewan Andrew, chief sustainability officer at Diageo, says, “We are proud to have created this world first 100 per cent plastic free paper-based spirits bottle. 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.”
Previously, Diageo and venture management company Pilot Lite launched Pulpex a sustainable packaging technology company. Pulpex has established a partner consortium of global FMCG companies, all of whom expect to launch their own branded paper bottles, based on Pulpex’s design and technology.
Pulpex says the bottle, made from sustainably sourced pulp, will meet food-safe standards and will meet recyclable standards. It believes technology will allow brands to rethink their packaging designs. They can move existing designs into paper.
The technology promises a variety of plastic-free, single mould bottles for use across a range of consumer goods. Designed to contain a variety of liquid products, it forms part of Diageo’s commitment to sustainability.
Saving waste
Richard Slater, chief research and development officer at Unilever, says, “We believe in tackling plastic waste through innovation and collaboration. We are going to halve our use of virgin plastic at Unilever. It will reduce our use of plastic packaging by more than 100,000 tonnes in the next five years. Joining forces to develop and test paper bottles is an incredibly exciting step forward. So, we are delighted to work together to tackle one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time.”
Simon Lowden, chief sustainability officer at PepsiCo, says, “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. It has an impact beyond what any organisation could achieve alone. We are proud to be a part of it.”
Founded in 1997, Diageo has a collection of over 200 global alcohol beverage brands. These include Guinness, Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Gordon’s and Ciroc.
