Greenall's recyclable paper bottles

Source: Greenall’s

The outer bottle is made from 94% recycled paperboard with a plastic food-grade pouch to contain the gin

Greenall’s has begun pouring its gin into eco-friendly paper bottles.

The brand has created a 70cl bottle made from 94% recycled paperboard with a food-grade plastic pouch to contain the gin. It will make its UK retail debut in Sainsbury’s this October (rsp: £15.50/700ml). 

The bottle is five times lighter than a standard glass bottle with a carbon footprint six times lower and a water footprint four times lower, according to the brand.

The bottle is fully recyclable; the outer casing and cap can be disposed of in kerbside recycling and the soft plastic liner at major supermarkets and recycling centres.

Greenall’s has partnered with climate action organisation Ecologi to plant one tree for every paper bottle sold in the off-trade, and for every 10 Greenall’s gin & tonics purchased in the on-trade.

“With climate change a continued growing threat, we recognise that we need to do our best to reduce our environmental footprint,” said Greenall’s global brand lead Russell Smith.

The innovation and partnership with Ecologi marked “a significant step in Greenall’s sustainability journey”, Smith added.

“We know there is much more we need to do, so we are creating a roadmap for the brand that will lead us to reduce our carbon emissions to net zero.”

Ecologi head of partnerships Linda Adams said she was “so pleased to be part of the sustainability journey of a company so clearly dedicated to the cause” and hoped other companies in the beverage industry would “follow their lead”.

However, Greenall’s isn’t the only drinks brand exploring sustainable alternatives to glass bottles.

Carlsberg, for instance, last month unveiled its first fully recyclable, bio-based beer bottle, made from sustainably sourced wood fibre with a polyethylene furanoate lining.

When in Rome launched a trio of paper wine bottles into Ocado earlier this year, and Absolut trialled paper vodka bottles in 2021.