- Two new research prototypes for its Green Fibre Bottle are revealed – 
containing beer for the first time 

- More leading companies are now committing to paper bottle technology

C40 World Mayors Summit: Carlsberg Group has today updated on its journey to 
create the world's first 'paper' beer bottle made from sustainably-sourced wood 
fibres that is both 100% bio-based and fully recyclable.  
 
Carlsberg has unveiled two new research prototypes of its Green Fibre Bottle, 
which are the first 'paper bottles' to contain beer. Carlsberg also announced 
it has been joined by other leading global companies who are united in their 
vision of developing sustainable packaging through the advancement of paper 
bottle technology.

These developments are a continuation of Carlsberg's sustainable packaging 
innovation journey and a key part of its sustainability programme, Together 
Towards ZERO, including its commitment to ZERO carbon emissions at its 
breweries and a 30% reduction in its full value chain carbon footprint by 2030.

Two new prototypes 

The two new research prototypes are made from sustainably-sourced wood fibre, 
are fully recyclable and have an inner barrier to allow the bottles to contain 
beer. One prototype uses a thin recycled PET polymer film barrier, and the 
other a 100% bio-based PEF polymer film barrier. These prototypes will be used 
to test the barrier technology as Carlsberg seeks a solution to achieve their 
ultimate ambition of a 100% bio-based bottle without polymers. 

Myriam Shingleton, Vice President Group Development at Carlsberg Group, said: 
"We continue to innovate across all our packaging formats, and we are pleased 
with the progress we've made on the Green Fibre Bottle so far. While we are not 
completely there yet, the two prototypes are an important step towards 
realising our ultimate ambition of bringing this breakthrough to market. 
Innovation takes time and we will continue to collaborate with leading experts 
in order to overcome remaining technical challenges, just as we did with our 
plastic-reducing Snap Pack."

New partners onboard

Carlsberg kicked off the project to develop a bottle made from sustainably 
sourced wood fibres, the 'Green Fibre Bottle,' in 2015 alongside innovation 
experts ecoXpac, packaging company BillerudKorsnäs, and post-doctoral 
researchers from the Danish Technical University, supported by Innovation Fund 
Denmark. These combined efforts have resulted in the emergence of Paboco®, the 
Paper Bottle Company – a joint venture between BillerudKorsnäs and bottle 
manufacturing specialist Alpla. 

Carlsberg will now be joined by The Coca-Cola Company, The Absolut Company and 
L'Oréal in a paper bottle community – launched today by Paboco®. The community 
unites leading global companies and experts with the vision of advancing 
sustainable packaging, offering high-quality products while reducing their 
environmental impact. 

Myriam Shingleton continued: "The work with our partners since 2015 on the 
Green Fibre Bottle illustrates that this kind of innovation can happen when we 
work together. We're delighted that other like-minded companies have now joined 
us as part of Paboco's paper bottle community. Partnerships such as these, ones 
that are united by a desire to create sustainable innovations, are the best way 
to bring about real change."

"We're driven by our constant pursuit of better, to create more sustainable 
packaging solutions that help people to live more sustainable lives. Sometimes 
that means completely rethinking how things are done – pushing the boundaries 
of existing technologies and overcoming technical challenges as they present 
themselves."

Gittan Schiöld, interim CEO of Paboco® said: "It is all about the team! We are 
collaborating across the value chain, sharing the risks and are united in our 
vision that the paper bottle will become a reality and fundamentally change 
this industry for good."

A constant pursuit of better 

Carlsberg's focus on sustainable packaging innovations is not new. In 2018, the 
Danish brewer launched a number of packaging innovations including recycled 
shrink film, greener label ink and the innovative 'Snap Pack,' which replaces 
the plastic wrapping around its six-packs with a solution that instead glues 
cans together. 

Carlsberg's packaging improvements are part of its long-standing progress of 
betterment and innovation, including developing scientific breakthroughs such 
as pure yeast and the pH scale.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1008519/Carlsberg_GFB_1.jpg 
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1008520/Carlsberg_GFB_2.jpg 

Source: The Carlsberg Group