Could paper be a new sustainable type of bottle packaging? Maybe it is. Paboco (The Paper Bottle Company) grown from the start-up and innovation expert EcoXpac, has developed a 100% bio-based and recyclable paper bottle.

Could paper be a new sustainable type of bottle packaging? Maybe it is. Paboco (The Paper Bottle Company) grown from the start-up and innovation expert EcoXpac, has developed a 100% bio-based and recyclable paper bottle. The wood fibres used come from sustainable, well-managed forests and for each tree logged two to three are (re)planted and enabled to grow to an optimal size.

There Must be an Inner Barrier

The Paper Bottle Company is a venture between the paper packaging material developer BillerudKorsn?s and the bottle manufacturing specialist ALPLA, who recently announced that Avantium will be one of the technology providers for the Paper Bottle Project.

In order to use it for various purposes, the bottle needs an inner barrier that contains liquids and prevents gas permeability through the bottle, which is necessary for beverages such as beer and carbonated soft drinks. There are two prototypes of the paper bottle: One uses a thin recycled PET polymer film barrier, while the other has a 100% plant-based PEF (polyethylene furanoate) polymer film barrier by Avantium. PEF’s barrier and thermal properties are claimed to be superior to conventional PET and may become the next-generation polyester. Nevertheless, both prototypes are an important step towards a circular approach to packaging.

Major Brand Owners Joined the Paper Bottle Project

Carlsberg Group, Coca-Cola Europe, Absolut Company and L’Oréal climbed on the bandwagon and joined the Paper Bottle Company. Carlsberg founded a Together Towards Zero Initiative, which includes a commitment to reach zero carbon emissions by 2030. At the C40 World Mayors Summit in Copenhagen on the 9^th to 12^th October, Carlsberg said that the “Green Fibre Bottle” prototypes will be produced from sustainably sourced wood fibres and can be recycled completely. Carlsberg already replaced their plastic wrap for six-packs with a snap-pack and was able to reduce the plastic content by up to 76% compared to conventional multipacks.

The Coca-Cola Company formulates its vision of working towards a “World Without Waste”, which includes goals to make all packaging 100% recyclable and to ensure that at least 50% of plastics bottles consist of recycled materials. The paper bottle concept could make a valuable contribution to achieving those goals.

Paper bottles could also be an eco-friendly alternative in the cosmetic industry. Since October, L’Oréal is the first cosmetics company to be involved in the Paper Bottle Project and announced the launch of the paper-based cosmetic tube in 2020. The development of the paper bottle is already underway and the market launch is planned for 2021.

“A Paper Bottle in Every Hand”

The Paper Bottle Company Paboco wants to become part of the solution and have the vision that there is a paper bottle in every hand. Although there is still some work to be done, the sustainable and commercial potential of paper bottles is immense: packaging that can be recycled or returned to nature without harm. Paboco said: “By changing the bottling industry for good, we have the opportunity to impact people’s choice of sustainable packaging and indirectly spark the beginning of an everyday movement.”



[News Resource]drupa blog