British sustainable packaging company Frugalpac has signed a letter of intent with ITC Limited’s packaging and printing business, the largest value-added converter of packaging in South Asia, to bring paper ‘Frugal Bottles’ to India in a ground-breaking collaboration to decarbonise the drinks industry.
Frugalpac’s new collaboration with ITC will see both companies promote and grow the demand for paper bottles in India with a view to eventually produce these low-carbon bottles in the country.
The Frugal Bottle is made from 94% recycled paperboard with a food grade pouch to hold the liquid. It is five times lighter than a glass bottle and crucially has a carbon footprint 84% lower than bottles made from glass. It also has a water footprint that is four times lower than that for glass bottles.
The collaboration was announced just days before ProWine Mumbai, where Frugalpac exhibited its Frugal Bottles and promoted the machines that make them.
The collaboration underpins ITC ‘Sustainability 2.0’ plan which aims to support sustainable livelihoods, pursue newer ways to fight climate change, enable the transition to a net zero economy, work towards ensuring water security for all and create an effective circular economy for post-consumer packaging waste.
Huge impact
More than 45 drinks producers from around the world have already launched 128 different SKUs of wines, spirits and olive oils in the Frugal Bottle. They are available in 25 countries, including Australia, Japan, North America, Canada, the UK, across Europe, Scandinavia, and South Africa.
S.N. Venkataraman, CEO of ITC’s packaging and printing business, said: “Sustainability is hugely important to ITC. As a business, we are proud to have been at the forefront of bringing sustainable packaging solutions in the Indian market.”
Malcolm Waugh, CEO of Frugalpac added: “India’s alcoholic beverage market is ranked sixth globally in terms of revenue generation, so it was vital we collaborated with a company that has the experience, reach and commitment to sustainability to bring our paper bottle revolution to South Asia.”
Why Frugal?
It’s lighter. The Frugal Bottle weighs just 83 gm, so it is up to five times lighter than a normal glass bottle, making it easier to carry and lighter to transport.
It’s better for the environment. An independent life cycle assessment by Intertek found the Frugal Bottle, which is made from recycled paperboard with no chemicals, has a carbon footprint up to six times (84%) lower than a glass bottle, and more than a third less than a bottle made from 100% recycled plastic. The Frugal Bottle’s water footprint is also at least four times lower than glass.
It’s easy to recycle again. Simply separate the plastic food-grade pouch from the paper bottle and put them in your respective recycling bins. The food grade pouch is certified recyclable and is a polyethylene metallised polyester laminate, the same material used in bag in box wines.
It uses less plastic than a plastic bottle. The Frugal Bottle uses up to 77% less plastic – only 15 gm, compared to a 64-gm bottle made from 100% recycled plastic.
As the Frugal Bottle is made from recycled paperboard, it allows for 360-degree branding across the bottle. No other wine or spirits bottle looks or feels like it, so it stands out on the shelf and table.
It’s better for wine producers. The Frugal Bottle can be produced in the heart of their bottling facility, offers complete freedom on design and print, is more cost-effective to transport than glass bottles while reducing their carbon footprint further.
