Monday 13 July 2020

Diageo to sell Johnnie Walker whiskey in paper bottles in 2021

British beverages company Diageo, producer of spirits such as Smirnoff and Guinness, has announced plans to launch a new bottle made of paper for its whiskey brand Johnnie Walker in early 2021.

The firm claims the bottle would be 'world's first-ever 100% plastic-free paper-based spirits bottle', made entirely from sustainably-sourced wood.

The new bottle, developed in partnership with the venture management company Pilot Lite, will be made from wood pulp and will be fully recyclable.

The two companies have also joined forces to create a sustainable packaging technology firm called Pulpex, which will provide other companies, including American beverages corporation Pepsico and Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever, with paper bottles for their own brands.

Ewan Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer, Diageo PLC, said: “We’re proud to have created this world first. 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.”