In its largest pilot to date, the Carlsberg Group today announced trials of its new fibre bottle, bringing bio-based and fully recyclable beer bottles to consumers. With continued focus on evolving technology and sustainable practices, the bottle also contains beer brewed with organic and renewable barley.
Crucial to accelerating Carlsberg's determination to commercialise beer bottles, the pilot will sample 8,000 fibre bottles in eight Western European markets: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, UK, Poland, Germany and France. The bottles will be delivered to local consumers through select festivals and major events, as well as targeted product samples. Testing of this scale will give Carlsberg the opportunity to gather feedback on people's experience with the product, which will inform the next generation of designs.
New Fibre Bottles Unlock the Full Potential of PEF
An important milestone for the fibre bottle is its bio-based PEF polymer, developed by Carlsberg's partner Avantium, a leading specialist in renewable chemistry. PEF is made entirely from natural raw materials, is compatible with plastic recycling systems, and can degrade into nature if it ends up outside national recycling systems. In addition to its sustainable packaging benefits, PEF acts as an efficient barrier between the beer and the fibrous shell, protecting the beer taste and foam better than traditional fossil fuel-based PET plastics.
The outer shell of the bottle, produced by packaging company Paboco, is composed of sustainably sourced wood fibers and is also bio-based. Compared to cans or glass bottles, the shell has the added benefit of insulating properties that can help keep the beer cooler for longer. Stephane Munch, VP of Group Development at Carlsberg, said: “We are delighted to get our new fibre bottle into the hands of consumers so they can experience it for themselves. This pilot will play an even bigger role in testing production, performance and recycling of this the size of the product.”
With the exception of the cap, the bottle is 100% bio-based, which is currently required to ensure product quality, and the bottle and cap together are fully recyclable. Going forward, partners in Paboco, Carlsberg and the wider paper bottle community are exploring alternative fiber-based closures, with a universal solution expected in 2023. Carlsberg will continue to develop with Avantium and Paboco to arrive at a tailored 3.0 solution equally suitable for primary beer packaging.
