Carlsberg reveals prototype for 'world's first' beer bottle made from paper

Danish brewing giant aims to cut waste and reduce carbon emissions in beer industry

Beer brand Carlsberg is in the development stages of creating a range of beer bottles made from paper.

On Thursday, the Danish beer company unveiled two prototypes for what it claims will be the world’s first paper beer bottle.

The prototypes for its Green Fibre Bottle are made from sustainably-sourced wood fibre and feature an inner barrier that allows them to contain liquid.

One of the prototypes uses a thin recycled PET plastic polymer film, while the other uses a 100 per cent bio-based PEF plastic polymer film, both of which Carlsberg says it will now use to test the barrier technology.

The company's ambition is to eventually create a 100 per cent bio-based bottle without polymers, an aim which forms part of Carlsberg's wider sustainability goals to achieve zero carbon emissions at its breweries and a 30 per cent cut in its full value chain CO2 footprint by 2030.

Myriam Shingleton, vice president group for development at Carlsberg Group, said the fibre bottles are better for the environment than aluminium or glass because they are sourced in a sustainable way, and because the material has a “very low impact on production process”.

While the final product is still a few years from completion, Shingleton added that she was pleased with the progress made 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,” she said.

“Innovation takes time and we will continue to collaborate with leading experts in order to overcome remaining technical challenges.”

Carlsberg has been working on the paper bottle designs since 2015 alongside tech firm ecoXpac, packaging company BillerudKorsnäs, and researchers from Danish Technical University.

The beer company has also joined forces with a number of other companies, including Absolut, Coca-Cola and L'Oréal to create a new “paper bottle community” aimed at further developing green packaging.

"Partnerships such as these, ones that are united by a desire to create sustainable innovations, are the best way to bring about real change," Shingleton said.

(Carlsberg) (The Carlsberg Group)

Carlsberg is not the only company looking to make its packaging more sustainable.

In recent years, Unilever has launched soap-like shampoo bars and bamboo toothbrushes to help meet its sustainability goals.

Similarly, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have shared plans to start selling water in aluminium cans to cut down their use of plastic, while Procter & Gamble has trialled refillable packages for Olay moisturiser.

Last year, Carlsberg eradicated the plastic rings used to hold its six packs of beer.

The new packs feature cans that are glued together, instead of held together by plastic rings that often end up polluting the ocean and can harm animal life.