A plastic free Johnnie Walker bottle will hit the market early next year, says the brand’s parent company Diageo. It’s the world’s first ever 100% plastic free, paper-based spirits bottle, made entirely from sustainably sourced wood. The spirits giant made the move to improve their carbon footprint and to tackle plastic waste.
Diageo partnered with venture management company Pilot Lite to create the plastic free Johnnie Walker bottle, which will be made from wood pulp that meets food grade standards and is fully recyclable. In order to develop the bottle, the two companies launched a sustainable packaging company called Pulpex Ltd.
Pulpex will also create branded paper bottles in non-competing categories for companies including Lipton, Unilever Plc, and PepsiCo, which are also expected to launch in 2021.
Diageo already uses less than 5% of plastic in its total packaging, but has set targets to reduce and recycle plastic in their packaging as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals program by 2025.
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.”
Sandy Westwater, Director, Pilot Lite said, “We’re thrilled to be working with global brand leaders in this consortium. By working together, we can use the collective power of the brands to help minimise the environmental footprint of packaging by changing manufacturing and consumer behaviours.”
Diageo continues to make an effort to shrink their carbon footprint across the board. Late last month, the spirits giant announced their forthcoming Bulleit Whisky distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky will be carbon neutral. The move promoted Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to call Diageo’s commitment to carbon neutrality, “a notable example of a historic Kentucky industry embracing a new future.”