Johnnie Walker trials 90% paper-based bottle for its whisky

Johnnie Walker is trialling a 90% paper-based bottle for its Black Label whisky at one of its bars in Edinburgh.

Created in partnership with PA Consulting, as part of the Bottle Collective with PA and PulPac, this is Diageo’s first paper-based 70 cl bottle trial in the on-trade. The trial will assess how bartenders interact with and pour from the bottle, and how the bottle fares in a bar environment. A total of 250 paper-based bottles will be used with the trial expected to run until mid-October. Members of the public will be able to see the bottles in use behind the bar; however, they cannot purchase the bottle.

The trial bottle is made from 90% paper and a very thin plastic liner. This makes the paper-based bottle approximately 60% lighter than its glass counterparts, with initial external life cycle analysis on the prototype showing an up to 47% potential reduction in carbon emissions compared to the glass bottle equivalent. The bottle closure was developed in collaboration with PulPac, Setop DIAM and PA, and is made from a combination of cork and similar Dry Molded Fiber paper technology as the bottle. It is only intended for use during the trial and excluded from calculations.

Image credit: Diageo

The paper-based bottle for this test is designed considering recyclability among other aspects. The plastic liner is designed to not require consumer or bartender disassembly, as it is not attached or bonded to the outer paper layer, assisting recycling facilities to separate without disrupting the recycling process. The stopper used for trial purposes is not recyclable; alternative solutions are in development.

This will be the second paper-based bottle trial from Diageo and PA, following the success of the Baileys paper-based bottle mini format (80 mL) trial, using a similar Dry Molded Fiber creation at the Time Out Festival in Barcelona earlier this year. The design team have taken learnings from the technical aspects of the miniature format, to make a larger and more complex shape for Johnnie Walker.

Jennifer English, Johnnie Walker Global Brand Director, said: “The paper-based bottle trial for Johnnie Walker Black Label marks a significant step forward in our journey. This test allows us to explore new packaging in the high intensity environment of the on-trade. We are pioneering new packaging solutions and shaping the future of the industry.”

Beyond paper-based solutions, the brand recently introduced Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra, the brand’s lightest whisky glass bottle, weighing 180 g without the stopper.

Image credit: Diageo