Stora Enso and packaging technology company Pulpex will go into production of eco-friendly paper bottles and containers made from wood fibre pulp. These renewable products will offer an alternative to PET plastics and glass. Source: Timberbiz
The joint development agreement is exclusively between Stora Enso and Pulpex, a sustainable packaging technology company established by Diageo (makers of Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff and Guinness) and Pilot Lite (a venture management company).
The partnership aims for large-scale industrial production of renewable and recyclable paper bottles and containers that degrade readily in the natural environment.
Produced with sustainably sourced formed fibre pulp, the bottles and containers would enable a significantly lower carbon footprint compared with glass or PET.
A formed fibre product is manufactured by pressing various wood-based pulps into a three-dimensional shape in a moulding machine. The focus of the partnership now is on developing a high-speed production line which is expected to be operational in 2022.
Pulpex will produce paper bottles for an array of global brands across a variety of market applications, from homecare and personal care products to alcohol and non-alcohol beverages and liquid foods.
The customizable Pulpex bottle allows for embossing, labelling and coloured pigments to fit brand needs and easily integrates into any packaging manufacturer’s existing filling infrastructure.
The global beverage packaging market is worth an estimated $117bn and is forecast to grow by 4.5% and reach $170bn by 2027. Globally, plastic packaging is currently growing at 5% CAGR and represents about 40% of global beverage packaging. Across the EU and US today, only around 30-40% of all plastic bottles are collected for recycling. However, for paper and cardboard recycling, the average is nearer 80%, just ahead of glass and aluminium (75-80%).
