Carlsberg to trial bio-based beer bottle across Europe

Carlsberg is trialing the latest design of its Fibre Bottle, produced in collaboration with renewable chemistry company Avantium, in a move to commercialise bio-based bottles.

The PEF (polyethylene furanoate) Fibre Bottle is made with a wood fibre outer shell and a plant-based and recyclable PEF polymer liner. The packaging enables the protection of the taste and fizziness of beer leading to longer shelf life.

This year the companies signed a joint agreement to develop several PEF packaging applications, including the Fibre Bottle, with the bio-based material being produced in Avantium’s FDCA Flagship Plant.

Avantium and Carlsberg developed the initial Fibre Bottle back in 2019 in partnership with Paboco.

Carlsberg has revealed the latest design will sample 8,000 bottles across eight Western European markets throughout summer. The bottles will be introduced at selected festivals and events, as well as targeted product sampling, gathering large-scale feedback for future commercialisation. 

Stephane Munch, VP group development at Carlsberg, said: “We are delighted to be bringing our new Fibre Bottle into the hands of consumers, allowing them to experience it for themselves. However, this pilot will serve a greater purpose in testing the production, performance, and recycling of this product at scale.”

“Identifying and producing PEF, as a competent functional barrier for beer, has been one of our greatest challenges – so getting good test results, collaborating with suppliers and seeing the bottles being filled on the line is a great achievement,” Munch added.