Annual global consumption of plastic bottles will top half a trillion by 2021, with a projected jump in production of 20% this year alone. Isn’t it time we starting looking for an alternative?
Up until recently, switching to glass production, with or without a deposit return scheme in place, was accepted as the preferred eco route. But wait, a recent report suggests that glass bottles, particularly ones that contain carbonated drinks, could have a bigger detrimental impact on the planet than plastic ones – now that was news to us too!
So, it’s good to see the paper bottle smashing through as an alternative to plastic in the fast-moving consumer beverage and goods markets. A number of companies are producing prototypes, with some starting to partner with large consumer brands to trial and eventually scale up production. Bigger brands too are exploring the potential of the paper bottle, like Coca Cola Company which is running a prototype trial (although their bottle does contain a plastic film inner).
What are the advantages of the paper bottle? Well, card and paper are generally recyclable with well managed domestic waste stream and recycling infrastructure in place across most of the developed world. In fact, the only issues tend to be when containers and cartons are foil laminated or coated in plastic, or both! (TetraPak® anyone?)
Plastic bottles made from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) or Polyethylene (PE), on the other hand, require additional mechanical processing, high heat and, when reformed, produce low grade material that is often combined with virgin plastic in order to produce new products – a big zero for us.
Paper bottles have a similar weight to plastic, maintaining advantage over glass in transportation costs and the reduction in CO2 emissions as a result. They also swap in easily to existing logistics standards and tracks, and, crucially, don’t require additional waste management at end of life.
What really crushes it for us is the bespoke bottle designs starting to hit the shelves. Recently there’s been a trend for brands with distinctive bottles to discontinue them (possibly due to fear of being identified as their empty cast-offs wash up on beaches). The paper bottle allows brands to retain a form factor that gives them real point-of-sale impact without the environmental impact.
The not so good stuff? Well, there’s not much to say really, other than the obvious: paper bottles are opaque. Now, I don’t know about you, but, as a consumer, being able to see the contents inside is not high on my priority list when we’re trying to save the planet here, people. But, for some, perhaps it will be one of life’s little joys as they pour a glass of white and end up with red. Who knows?
To conclude, the sturdy paper bottle is a more environmentally friendly alternative. One we hope will become a popular and funky part of our lives in the postplastic world.
