Are Paper Wine Bottles the Future?
01:55 Ipswich, England — A British company is revolutionizing the wine industry by introducing a unique paper alternative to traditional glass bottles and making its way to the United States. Meet Frugalpac, a company dedicated to decarbonizing the beverage industry through the design and production of paper wine bottles. Frugalpac’s product director, JP Grogan, explained, “The overall carbon footprint is significantly lower with paper bottles compared to their glass counterparts. We estimate it to be up to six times lower.”
The Frugalpac bottle weighs less than 3 ounces, which is nearly five times lighter than a regular glass bottle. This lightweight design not only saves on fuel and reduces emissions during transportation but also allows for larger quantities to be transported at once due to the flat-packed starting point. The process takes place in Frugalpac’s factory in Ipswich, southern England, where pre-cut recycled cardboard is shaped into a bottle and equipped with a plastic pouch to hold the drink. Grogan assures consumers that the taste of the wine is not compromised, stating, “Our customers and ourselves have tested the bottles with various beverages, including vodka and wine. No one has been able to discern any difference between our products and those stored in control glass bottles.”
While packaging wine in paper bottles affects its shelf-life compared to glass bottles, the company estimates that red wine can be safely stored for 18 months in their paper bottles, while white wine generally lasts around a year. Seeing the potential in this innovation, the Monterey Wine Company in California became the first American firm to adopt the use of Frugalpac’s paper bottles. They have even invested in the assembly machine to complete the bottles in-house for shipping. Shannon Valladerez, representing the Monterey Wine Company, explained, “Our partnership with Frugalpac has allowed us to witness firsthand the production process and identify U.S. suppliers for the cardboard and other materials needed for the bottles.”
Frugalpac aims to persuade more producers worldwide to adopt their model and acquire the necessary assembly machines, driven by the reduced carbon footprint and the unique shelf appeal of their paper bottles. Grogan outlined their strategy, saying, “We believe in placing the assembly machines near the beverage producers to minimize movements. By having multiple machines in various locations, producers can source components from local suppliers.”
A shift towards paper wine bottles could be the future of the beverage industry. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from CBS News.
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