Wood Fiber Bottles?

This project, currently in its pilot phase, is led by the Carlsberg brewery and sustainable chemistry experts Avantium. They are creating plant-based bottles made of wood fibers that are capable of storing the drink while retaining its flavor and properties.

The material used is PEF polymer, made entirely from natural raw materials and compatible with plastic recycling systems, as well as being biodegradable. The outer casing of the bottle, manufactured by Paboco, consists of bio-based wood fiber of sustainable origin, according to the Equipack.es website. It also keeps the beer cold for longer, thanks to its insulating capacity.

The bottle is 100% bio-based, other than for the cap, though that is still recyclable. The experts in charge of the project continue to explore solutions to create alternative fiber-based caps.

 

Pilot Phase 

Carlsberg's new beer bottle is currently in its pilot phase, to be tested initially in 8 countries: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, United Kingdom, Poland, Germany and France. The idea is to put this alternative in the hands of consumers at mass events, festivals and product samples.

In the words of Carlsberg's Vice President Group Development, Stephane Munch: “We are delighted to bring our new Fiber Bottle into the hands of consumers, allowing them to experience it for themselves. This pilot will serve a greater purpose in testing the production, performance and recycling of this product at scale.”

This is the second version of the bottle its creators came up with, and in pursuit of continuous improvement, work is already underway on version 3.0 of the plant-based bottle, based on the first consumer experience and new technological developments from the alliance between Carlsberg, Paboco and Avantium.

Continuous Improvement

While Fiber Bottle Generation 2.0 improves on the functionality of single-use glass, it’s expected to achieve an 80% reduction in emissions compared to glass bottles. So, for every glass container, five plant-based bottles can be produced for the same carbon footprint.

The ultimate goal of Fiber Bottle is to achieve an emissions reduction similar to that of reusable glass bottles, which are considered the best performing primary packaging. However, the end result of the bottle is not intended to replace existing glass and can packaging, but to complement the range of products.

For the time being, the pilot to be implemented precedes the launch of Carlsberg's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) program: Together Towards ZERO and Beyond, forming a precedent in the company's sustainable performance in its goals within sustainable agriculture and packaging and the reduction of the world's carbon footprint.

Group Sustainability Director at Carlsberg, Simon Boas Hoffmeyer, concludes: “The progress made with our new Fibre Bottle is testament to Carlsberg’s pioneering spirit, with a focus on making better products in every sense of the word. We’ve been working hard on this project since 2015, and aim to continue to set the industry standard by further improving the bottle’s environmental footprint and product performance. Collaboration is key and, together with our partners, we’re excited to see how research and development into sustainable packaging solutions is now becoming the norm”.