Described as no less than “the biggest innovation for wine and spirits since the launch of the glass bottle,” the Frugal Bottle is made of recycled paperboard.
Created in the UK by packaging supplier Frugalpac, the Frugal Bottle is composed of 94% paperboard lined with food-grade plastic pouch to hold the liquid; the paper casing and the pouch are designed to be separated after consumption for recycling purposes. The bottle weighs in at just 83 grams, making it “up to five times lighter” than a traditional glass bottle, says the supplier. Cost-wise, however, the paperboard bottle is said to be comparable to its glass counterpart.
When questioned about the impact of the plastic pouch on the taste of the beverage, Frugalpac explains that the bottle has been tested to "achieve at least 12 months shelf life based on oxygen transmission and taste" and that it is targeting wines that are consumed within a few days of opening.
The supplier’s strategy is to provide winegrowers or distillers with an assembly machine that will allow them produce the bottle on site, another way of cutting down on carbon emissions. "We are also working with packaging companies in France interested in supplying the Frugal Bottle to smaller producers where a machine investment may not be viable and encourage all the materials to be printed and purchased in the region to further support sustainability and the local economy," adds the company.
The first Frugal Bottle to launch on the market is from Italian winemaker Cantina Goccia for its 3Q 2017 vintage. Frugalpac is also targeting the spirits segment.
