Absolut Group launches industry-first paper-based cap and bottle

SWEDEN – Pernod Ricard’s vodka brand Absolut, in partnership with Blue Ocean Closures, has unveiled a paper-based cap and bottle, reportedly marking an industry first as part of its vision for fully biobased packaging.

After years of innovation and bold industry-first trials, Absolut Vodka is bringing together two of their breakthrough innovations for the first time.

A Swedish startup focused on reducing plastics through fibre packaging innovation, Blue Ocean Closures (BOC), partnered to develop the cap.

BOC CEO Lars Sandberg said, “We are proud to partner with Absolut Vodka, a leader when it comes to packaging innovation, in bringing the paper-based cap to life.

“Real change must be a collective effort, and we are excited to learn from the feedback received by bartenders attending this trial.”

The bottle and cap were first trialled at “The Map” event in May, being put to the test by a community of bartenders evaluating its performance in real-life scenarios.

According to the company, This innovation backs Absolut’s history of long-term environmental goals through innovative packaging.

In 2023, in collaboration with Paboco (Paper Bottle Company), the brand launched “Absolut Paper”, a single-mould paper-based bottle with trials at select Tesco stores in the UK.

With no existing paper-based cap options available in the market, Absolut teamed up with BOC to develop one.

The industry-first paper-based cap combines a body made of more than 95% Forest Stewardship Council-certified fibres with a thin plastic top-seal barrier.

Absolut aims to replace the plastic with a biobased material so the entire cap will be made of renewable materials.

This advancement opens the potential for reductions in carbon footprint compared to conventional materials, such as aluminium.

Additionally, the cap will be recyclable as paper in markets with recycling systems capable of separating paper from other materials.

The paper-based bottle and cap are components of Pernod Ricard’s Future of Packaging program, which is focused on advancing eco-friendly packaging solutions within the spirits industry.

Building on the initial trial at the ‘Absolut The Map’ event, Absolut intends to carry out additional quality assessments and limited market trials as part of the next phase in its development process.

“2023 saw the development of the Absolut paper-based bottle, a pioneering initiative that helped us push boundaries towards our fully biobased bottle,” remarked Absolut’s future packaging director, Louise Werner.

“However, the final piece of the puzzle remained. Creating real impact is hard, and change can only come about as a collective endeavour, so we are thrilled to partner with Blue Ocean Closures to help us on the journey.”

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