Johnnie Walker Whiskey Will Soon Be Sold in a Paper Bottle: Supply Chain Sustainability

Big news in supply chain sustainability! We love to see major brands, especially in the beverage industry which is a major culprit of wasteful, single use packaging, innovate new ways to use sustainable packaging.

Article via CNN

San Francisco (CNN Business)Starting next year, Johnnie Walker fans will be able to pour their whisky from a planet-friendly bottle. 

On Monday, Diageo (DEO), the British spirits company that owns the brand, announced the development of a paper-based spirits bottle made from sustainably sourced wood. The plastic-free packaging is expected to debut early next year.

Diageo's bottle was developed as part of a partnership with venture management company Pilot Lite. The two launched Pulpex Limited, a sustainable packaging technology firm that is also working with businesses such as Unilever (UL) and PepsiCo (PEP) on paper bottles, Diageo said Monday in a press release.

In beverage packaging trends, paper is in fashion as brands seek to curb plastic use. Diageo, which has committed to reduce its reliance on plastics -- including doing away with plastic rings on its Guinness cans -- and increase the recyclability of its bottles, said the paper-based bottle will help the company meet sustainability goals set by the United Nations.

Late last year, Danish beer company Carlsberg unveiled prototypes of a sustainably sourced wood fiber bottle for its pilsner. Pernod Ricard (PDRDF)-owned votdka brand Absolut, L'Oreal(LRLCF) and Coca-Cola (CCEP) are also working on similar efforts.