Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest A major consideration in the drinking world is sustainability. From moves to ban plastic straws to the rise of foraging bars, the industry has been looking for ways to be more sustainable and have a smaller impact on the environment. Brands have also taken up this cause. Diageo, the makers of Johnnie Walker, has created the world’s first-ever 100% plastic-free paper-based spirits bottle made entirely from sustainably sourced wood. The bottle will debut with Johnnie Walker, the world’s number one Scotch Whisky, in early 2021. Johnnie Walker Black Label paper bottle It has been created through a new partnership with Pilot Lite, a venture management company, to launch Pulpex Limited, a new world-leading sustainable packaging technology company. To ensure that the technology can be used in every area of life, Pulpex Limited has established a partner consortium of world-leading FMCG companies in non-competing categories including Unilever, and PepsiCo, with further partners expected to be announced later in the year. The consortium partners are each expecting to launch their own branded paper bottles, based on Pulpex Limited’s design and technology, in 2021. “We’re proud to have created this world first,” says Ewan Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer at Diageo PLC. “We are constantly striving to push the boundaries within sustainable packaging and this bottle has the potential to be truly ground-breaking. It feels fitting that we should launch it with Johnnie Walker, a brand that has often led the way in innovation throughout its 200 years existence.” “The new bottles have 30% less CO2 emission than PET and 90% less than Glass. Glass is a fantastic and versatile product that can be reused and recycled in many different ways,” shares Ewan Gunn, Senior Global Brand Ambassador of Diageo Scotch Whiskies, on his Instagram post. “This announcement is to explore what other potential options there may be for the future to supplement glass, and in some occasions replace its usage.” Pulpex Limited has developed a ‘first-of-its-kind’ scalable paper-based bottle designed and developed to be 100% plastic-free and expected to be fully recyclable. The bottle is made from sustainably sourced pulp to meet food-safe standards and will be fully recyclable in standard waste streams. The technology will allow brands to rethink their packaging designs, or move existing designs into paper, whilst not compromising on the existing quality of the product.