Carlsberg has revealed it will be piloting the use of plant-based plastic for a range of new products, including a fibre bottle and various packaging applications.
Carlsberg's fibre bottle is primarily made from wood but contains an inner layer of the plant-based PEF, protecting the paper. Credit: Carlsberg via Avantium
Partnering with renewable chemistry firm Avantium, the fibre bottle, which is made primarily from paper, will contain an inner layer of the polyethylene furanoate (PEF) resin which will stop the content of the bottle from destroying the outer shell.
The recyclable bottle will be shipped to around 8,000 consumers for tests across eight countries in Western Europe and is the two companies' first major project since they started working together in 2019.
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Much of the future PEF used will be made at Avantium's FDCA Flagship Plant, which should commence operations in 2024. Until then, the firm will be creating it at its current facilities.
The resin reportedly gives the beer a longer shelf life while offering "higher mechanical strength" than conventional plastics, which enables Carlsberg to use thinner packaging and reduces the overall amount of material used.
Both Carlsberg and Avantium also signed an agreement for a volume of PEF for use in various beer packaging projects once the Flagship Plant has been built.
“We are delighted to be bringing our new Fibre Bottle into the hands of consumers, allowing them to experience it for themselves. However, this pilot will serve a greater purpose in testing the production, performance, and recycling of this product at scale", said Stephane Munch, Carlsberg's VP for Group Development.
"Identifying and producing PEF, as a competent functional barrier for beer, has been one of our greatest challenges - so getting good test results, collaborating with suppliers and seeing the bottles being filled on the line is a great achievement”, he added.
This will be the largest trial of the fibre bottle to date and will finally see it in the hands of select consumers, with it set to launch at various festivals and events across the continent, as well as targeted product sampling.
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Feedback on the bottle will alert Carlsberg to the next steps it should take as well as scouting whether the bottle will be popular and whether it should be mass-produced.
“We are pleased to expand our partnership with Carlsberg. It is a truly exciting milestone that – for the very first time - consumers can now experience a PEF-lined beer bottle", said Avantium CEO, Tom van Aken.
"With business partners such as Carlsberg, Avantium can further scale and build the PEF value chain, meeting the growing global demand for circular and renewable material solutions. This is what the material transition is about: ensuring that consumers can get access to novel and sustainable products at scale".
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