developing a high-speed production line for fiber-based bottles
Stora Enso and Pulpex partner to produce fiber-based bottles on industrial scale
Stora Enso believes that everything that is made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow. Fiber-based bottles are one step in this direction. A high-speed production line is expected to be operational in 2022.
Quelle: Stora Enso
Stora Enso and packaging technology company Pulpex join forces to industrialize the production of eco-friendly paper bottles and containers made from wood fiber pulp.
The joint development agreement is formed exclusively between Stora Enso and Pulpex, a packaging technology company established by Diageo (makers of Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff and Guinness) and Pilot Lite (a venture management company).
The partnership aims for large-scale industrial production of renewable and recyclable paper bottles and containers that degrade readily in the natural environment. Produced with sustainably sourced formed fiber pulp, the bottles and containers would enable a significantly lower carbon footprint compared with glass or PET. A formed fiber product is manufactured by pressing various wood-based pulps into a three-dimensional shape in a moulding machine. The focus of the partnership now is on developing a high-speed production line which is expected to be operational in 2022.
“We see great potential in combining development skills of Pulpex with our industrial capabilities, says Sohrab Kazemahvazi, SVP Formed Fiber at Stora Enso. “This cooperation marks an important step in bringing to market a truly sustainable alternative to plastic bottles and containers, while offering end-user qualities that match those of traditional packaging in the beverage market.”
Using Stora Enso’s formed fiber material, Pulpex will produce paper bottles for an array of global brands across a variety of market applications, from homecare and personal care products to alcohol- and non-alcohol beverages and liquid foods. All of Stora Enso's wood fiber pulp comes from sustainable, verified sources. The customizable Pulpex bottle allows for embossing, labelling and coloured pigments to fit brand needs and easily integrates into any packaging manufacturer’s existing filling infrastructure.
The global beverage packaging market is worth an estimated $117bn and is forecast to grow by 4.5% and reach $170bn by 2027. Globally, plastic packaging is currently growing at 5% CAGR and represents about 40% of global beverage packaging. Across the EU and US today, only around 30-40% of all plastic bottles are collected for recycling. However, for paper and cardboard recycling, the average is nearer 80%, just ahead of glass and aluminium (75-80%).
Stora Enso is a global provider of renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wooden constructions and paper. Stora Enso has some 23 000 employees, and sales in over 50 countries. The sales in 2020 were EUR 8.6 billion.
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