Packaging / Advertising & Office

In its largest trial to date, the Carlsberg Group has announced the trial of a new fibre bottle, offering consumers a fully recyclable bio-based beer bottle for the first time. The company continues to focus on evolving technology and sustainable practices, and the bottle also fills beer brewed with organic regenerated barley.

The trial, which is critical to accelerating Carlsberg's ambitions to commercialise beer bottles, will sample 8,000 fibre bottles in eight Western European markets (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, UK, Poland, Germany and France). Bottles will be delivered to local consumers, customers and other stakeholders through select festival and flagship events, as well as targeted product sampling. A test 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.

This new fibre bottle takes full advantage of the potential of PEF

A major milestone for the fibre bottle is its plant-based PEF polymer lining, which was developed by Carlsberg partner Avantium, a leading specialist in renewable chemistry. Made entirely from natural raw materials, PEF is compatible with plastic recycling systems and can degrade into nature if it does not enter the national recycling system. In addition to its sustainable packaging benefits, PEF acts as an efficient barrier between the beer and the fibrous shell, protecting the beer's taste and bubbles better than traditional fossil fuel-based PET plastics.

Produced by packaging company Paboco, the bottle's casing is made from sustainably sourced wood fibres, which are also bio-based. Compared to metal cans or glass bottles, the outer shell also adds thermal insulation to help keep the beer cold for longer.

Stephane Munch, Vice President of Development, Carlsberg Group, said: "We are delighted to bring our new fibre bottle to consumers so they can experience it for themselves. This trial will be an even greater test of the product's production, performance and recycling at scale. effect."

"Discovering and producing PEF and using it as a functional barrier to beer has been one of our biggest challenges, so getting good test results, working with suppliers and seeing the bottles fill the line is a great thing achievement!"

The bottles are 100% bio-based, except for the cap (which is currently required to ensure the quality of the product), and both the bottle and cap are fully recyclable. Going forward, Paboco, Carlsberg and wider paper bottle community partners are exploring alternative fiber-based closures, with a universal solution expected in 2023. Working with Avantium and Paboco, Carlsberg will continue to develop a bespoke 3.0 solution that is equally suitable for major beer packaging, using consumer feedback this year and Paboco's development.

Brewed with unconventional barley

Technological advancements are not limited to the bottles themselves, as Carlsberg is also filling more sustainable winemaking products for its 2022 consumer trial campaign. Carlsberg has partnered with barley malt supplier Soufflet to brew beer using barley grown with fully organic and regenerative farming practices. More specifically, cover crops were grown in organic barley fields with added benefits for regenerative agriculture.

While consumers can still expect the same distinctive Carlsberg taste, this method of growing barley will improve farmland biodiversity, enhance soil health, and increase the soil's natural carbon sequestration capacity compared to traditional farming methods.

Fiber-based caps are expected to be launched in 2023

Looking ahead, Paboco, Carlsberg and wider paper bottle community partners are exploring alternative fiber-based closures, with a universal solution expected to be available in 2023. Working with Avantium and Paboco, Carlsberg will continue to develop a bespoke 3.0 solution that is equally suitable for major beer packaging, using consumer feedback this year and Paboco's development.

Constantly pursue better

In the product life cycle assessment, the 2.0-generation fiber bottle has performed better than the disposable glass bottle, and Carlsberg has greater ambitions for the subsequent 3.0-generation design. Carlsberg's vision is supported by current forecasts that the fibre bottle will reduce emissions by up to 80% compared to current single-use glass bottles.

So, for every same carbon footprint used to make one single-use glass bottle, five fiber bottles can be made. Ultimately, Carlsberg aims to achieve the same low carbon footprint as refillable glass bottles, which are currently the best performing primary packaging when collected and reused in efficient systems. When the fiber bottle is commercialized at scale, it will expand Carlsberg consumer choice and complement, rather than replace existing packaging such as glass bottles and metal cans.

Simon Boas Hoffmeyer, Group Sustainability Director, Carlsberg, added: "The progress made with our new fibre bottle is a testament to Carlsberg's pioneering spirit and focus on making better products in every way. Since 2015, we have been working on This project, aims to continue to set the industry standard by further improving the environmental footprint and product performance of wine bottles. Collaboration is key and together with our partners we are excited to see that research and development of sustainable packaging solutions is now becoming normal."

Ahead of the pilot event, Carlsberg will globally launch an ambitious ESG programme, Together Towards Zero and Beyond, which will leverage existing sustainability performance and and sustainable packaging to achieve new targets, ultimately enabling Carlsberg to reduce its carbon impact across the value chain.