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Pernod Ricard's The Absolut Company is collaborating with Swedish start-up Blue Ocean Closures to develop a fibre-based closure cap for Absolut Vodka’s bottle. The cap’s design will reduce the amount of plastic used in packaging by using a combination of sustainably sourced FSC fibre material with a thin top-seal barrier layer. The cap will be as recyclable as paper and ocean biodegradable and the partnering companies will develop the cap for use on current glass bottles, as an addition to existing cap solutions as well as a possibility for future packaging developments. Eric Näf, director of packaging development at The Absolut Company, said: "We know that collaboration across the whole value chain sits at the heart of long-term progress and true environmental, economic, and social impact. As part of our circular way of thinking, we are delighted to be working with Blue Ocean Closures to continue designing out single-use materials and using packaging innovation for the benefit of the planet." The partnership will see several prototypes and testing stages throughout 2022, with plans to share it commercially in 2023.