Carlsberg Group is working on what it says is the world’s first “paper” beer bottle made from sustainably sourced wood fibres, reports Pulp & Paper Canada.

Carlsberg has unveiled two new research prototypes of its 100 per cent bio-based and fully recyclable Green Fibre Bottle, which are the first “paper bottles” to contain beer. Carlsberg also announced it has been joined by other global companies to develop sustainable packaging through the advancement of paper bottle technology.

These developments are a continuation of Carlsberg’s sustainability programme, Together Towards ZERO, including its commitment to zero carbon emissions at its breweries and a 30 per cent reduction in its full value chain carbon footprint by 2030.

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 per cent bio-based PEF polymer film barrier. These prototypes will be used to test the barrier technology as Carlsberg seeks a solution to achieve a 100 per cent bio-based bottle without polymers.