Single-use plastics are a known threat to our environment, generating millions of tons of unnecessary waste every year that makes its way into our waters and breaks up into microplastics. These microplastics disrupt entire ecosystems and cause great harm to turtles, wildlife, sea birds, and the marine life that ingests them.

Fishbone replaces single-use plastics with paper-based can carriers that use significantly less material than full overwrap paperboard cartons. Fishbone carriers are available for standard cans as well as Alumi-Tek bottles in both 4-pack and 6-pack formats and are sealed with a recyclable, compostable water-based barrier coating for moisture resistance. Fishbone can carriers come in a variety of options designed to complement any brand and to communicate the brand’s commitment to sustainability. Custom printing and graphics are also an option for unique branding opportunities on the carrier.

The comprehensive Fishbone system also features semi-automatic and fully automatic equipment engineered specifically to apply the Fishbone carriers to a 6-pack of 12 oz cans and to a 4-pack of either 12 oz or 16 oz cans. The BCF10 tabletop model runs up to 60 cans/minute and is available for a monthly user fee. The BCF40 high-speed model runs up to 240 cans/minute and is available for purchase.

Bringing this system to market has been a collaboration between Fishbone Packaging, the innovators of the Fishbone carrier design, and Atlantic Packaging, the exclusive licensee of Fishbone Packaging. Atlantic will handle all aspects of the customer experience, from product ordering and delivery to equipment sales and support.

In a time when businesses are facing increasing pressure from environmental groups, consumers, and now governments to eliminate single-use plastics, the Fishbone system is readily available for craft brewers and beverage producers who want to make the switch to a sustainable packaging option.

Atlantic Packaging President, Wes Carter, comments: “As an industry, we have to acknowledge that single-use, consumer destined plastic packaging creates environmental pollution that isn’t sustainable for our planet. For these reasons, polyethylene plastic beverage rings have been problematic packaging since their introduction decades ago.

“Atlantic and Fishbone have collaborated to bring the first-ever 100% curbside recyclable paperboard beverage carrier to the marketplace. This sustainable Fishbone solution addresses all environmental concerns and also is highly marketable for our customers. We are proud to introduce this transformative technology to packaging.”

Kevin L’Heureux, Fishbone Packaging Inc. President, and Keith Elliott, Co-Founder, remark: “Fishbone Packaging is thrilled to partner with Atlantic Packaging to bring our innovative, plastic-free packaging products and application technologies to a wider market. We have a long-standing and successful working relationship with Atlantic Packaging and this alliance has been developed to better serve and to grow sustainable, impactful and consumer-friendly packaging with our shared values.”

Source: Atlantic Packaging

The release is the first major launch from the distiller, under the Silent Pool Gin brand, since their stunning iconic teal and copper bottle arrived on the craft gin market in 2014.

Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin, which contains some of the world’s rarest citrus fruits, is crafted from unusual fruits from around the world, including Asian citrus fruits hirado buntan, natsu dai, Buddha’s hand, and green Seville orange. The fruits are sourced from citrus collectors on Portugal’s Alentejo coast, where more than 300 citrus varieties are grown.

The gin is distilled using Silent Pool Distillers four-tiered method, the resulting gin is zesty and vibrant and is bottled showcasing the botanicals and citrus fruits in, what is now a trademark Silent Pool Gin look.

For the primary packaging and its decoration, leading design and innovation consultancy, Seymourpowell, were instrumental in delivering a bottle design that captures the intricate and intriguing essence of the gin. It is instantly recognisable as a Silent Pool Gin, but also distinctly different from the previous iconic, classic teal bottle.

Opting for a warm and sophisticated terracotta colourway, the bottle emphasises the rich citrus notes that the four fruits bring to the flavour profile. The familiar botanical design has been re-crafted to include the visual representations of each fruit and reflect the top, mid and base citrus notes of the recipe. The bottle, incorporating a glass stopper, is distinctive, iconic and desirable, emphasising Silent Pool Distillers passion for creativity and excellence.

Ian McCulloch, co-founder of Silent Pool Distillers, said: “Croxsons have been a key partner since the project started in 2014 and they remain our first call experts for anything related to glass. They have helped us navigate supply, decoration and evolving the designs we use and we have a good and trusting relationship with them, enabling us to focus on driving the business forward and focussing on the areas we can add the greatest value.

On their relationship with Silent Pool Distillers, Croxsons’ Tim Croxson, added: “It’s great to see our partnership with Ian and the team at Silent Pool Distillers go from strength to strength. With the distillery being local to Croxsons, it’s vitally important to be supporting local businesses and we are proud to be as involved as we are in Silent Pool Distillers journey. With complex designs becoming a Croxsons’ trademark, this latest expression, as with the first, is both beautiful and impactful.”

Source: Croxsons

Established in the Scottish capital at the start of the pandemic, Edinburgh Beer is a collaboration project that supports Edinburgh’s craft breweries and raises charitable funds for local good causes. The initiative is based on the supply of beers from eight established Edinburgh craft breweries, which are then sold online in packs of 12 or 24 cans, as well as a 4-can cube pack. Purchasing beer from craft brewers in this way triggers a fair price payment to the breweries, in addition to a £1 for charity for every box purchased.

With designs produced by an Edinburgh-based illustrator, Durham Box used the single pass efficiency of the Nozomi press to provide a dynamic print solution for the beer packs. And for the advent calendar, produced as a box to hold 24 cans, a coated B-flute board was used – the substrate providing good protection with a high quality print finish and 100% recyclability. The complex design for the calendar, which included vibrant colours and black and white areas, was subject to a one-pass layering effect by the Nozomi, giving the visual effect of a spot varnish. For the calendar box construction, internal dividers were used for the cans to sit in, in addition to a speedy tear cutting rule to give a clean and precise opening experience.

Edinburgh Beer’s founder, Ben Wallace, said: “We were seeking a print solution that could do justice to the designs and they [Durham Box] have exceeded our expectations with a superb print finish, coupled with the flexibility of multiple print versions and relative short runs for all the variations of packs and the calendar. Our thanks to local illustrator Susie Wright for creating the stunning design.”

As one of the UK’s leading corrugated packaging manufacturers, Co Durham-based Durham Box has recently undergone a brand refresh, in addition to launching a new website that highlights the company’s significant investment in digital.

Commenting on the work for Edinburgh Beer, Durham Box’s regional sales manager, Paul Barker, said: “It was great fun working with Ben, who has a 100 ideas at once, but a meticulous eye for detail! This is another great project showing the versatility, quality and impact of products produced through the Nozomi press,”

Source: Edinburgh Beer

Teaming with NuZee, Golden Ratio is poised to disrupt the coffee category with a craft beverage that—true to its name—is golden. By roasting its beans at lower temperatures and for a longer period of time, Golden Ratio created “gold coffee,” which tastes like tea while having the caffeine kick you expect from coffee. This new coffee is also five times less acidic than regular coffee and can easily be brewed hot or cold thanks to the tea bag style format provided by NuZee. Its luxuriously smooth flavor is keto-friendly with zero sugar or additives.

At launch, Golden Ratio is offering two flavored varieties, Vanilla Coconut and Chai Spiced, as well as an original flavor designed with intermittent fasters in mind. Vanilla Coconut is blended with natural vanilla flavors and toasted coconut for a subtle sweetness and smooth finish. Chai is blended with traditional flavors like cardamom, cinnamon, allspice and ginger for a cup of comfort that’s familiar and refreshing. Original has a very subtle, nutty flavor that’s easy on taste buds and digestion, particularly important to those who morning fast or are looking for a gentler coffee that still provides ample caffeine.

“Golden Ratio sought to create the ideal balance between flavor, convenience and sustainability,” said Clark Nowlin, Co-Founder and CEO of Golden Ratio. “NuZee was the perfect partner to help us accomplish this with eco-friendly, single-serve coffee pouches. We are excited to continue working together to help our customers start their day the Golden way.”

According to a recent Nielsen survey, 48% of Americans are looking to change their consumption habits to reduce their impact on the environment. Meanwhile, demand for single serve coffee, which tends to come in unnecessary single-use plastic pods, is booming. NuZee, the largest U.S. co-packer of alternative single serve coffee formats serves brands that cater to environmentally-conscious customers who also prioritize convenience.

“Now more than ever we are committed to supporting independent coffee roasters like Golden Ratio in their quest to bring eco-friendly and flavorful brews to coffee lovers,” said Travis Gorney, NuZee Chief Marketing Officer. “Manufactured at our production facility in Vista, California, we grind the beans to our partners’ specifications and offer scalable options for small and large coffee roasters and brands.”

Source: NuZee, Inc.

It comes as Diageo announces that it has launched a new partnership with Pilot Lite, a venture management company, to launch Pulpex Limited, a new world-leading sustainable packaging technology company. To ensure that the technology can be used in every area of life, Pulpex Limited has established a partner consortium of world leading FMCG companies in non-competing categories including Unilever, and PepsiCo, with further partners expected to be announced later in the year. The consortium partners are each expecting to launch their own branded paper bottles, based on Pulpex Limited’s design and technology, in 2021.

Pulpex Limited has developed a ‘first-of-its-kind’ scalable paper-based bottle designed and developed to be 100% plastic free and expected to be fully recyclable. The bottle is made from sustainably sourced pulp to meet food-safe standards and will be fully recyclable in standard waste streams.  The technology will allow brands to rethink their packaging designs, or move existing designs into paper, whilst not compromising on the existing quality of the product.

Ewan Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer, Diageo PLC, said: “We’re proud to have created this world first. We are constantly striving to push the boundaries within sustainable packaging and this bottle has the potential to be truly ground-breaking. It feels fitting that we should launch it with Johnnie Walker, a brand that has often led the way in innovation throughout its 200 years existence.”

Pulpex Limited’s technology allows it to produce a variety of plastic-free, single mould bottles that can be used across a range of consumer goods. The packaging has been designed to contain a variety of liquid products and will form part of Diageo’s commitment towards Goal 12 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: ‘Responsible Consumption and Production’.

Richard Slater, Chief R&D Officer, Unilever, said: “We believe in tackling plastic waste through innovation and collaboration. We are going to halve our use of virgin plastic at Unilever, reducing our use of plastic packaging by more than 100,000 tonnes in the next five years. Joining forces to develop and test paper bottles is an incredibly exciting step forward, and we’re delighted to be working together to tackle one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time.”

Simon Lowden, Chief Sustainability Officer, PepsiCo, said: “Innovative solutions and partnerships are critical to driving meaningful progress toward a circular economy. The Pulpex consortium is well positioned to deliver sustainable packaging at scale and across industries, having impact beyond what any organization could achieve alone. We’re proud to be a part of it.”

Sandy Westwater, Director, Pilot Lite said, “We’re thrilled to be working with global brand leaders in this consortium. By working together, we can use the collective power of the brands to help minimise the environmental footprint of packaging by changing manufacturing and consumer behaviours.”

Source: Diageo Plc

Eden Mill, Scotland’s first single-site distillery and brewery, crafting gin, whiskey, and beer, opted to change the packaging of its stylish pink gin in response to trade and consumer feedback. The result is a new lightweight glass bottle, which is more easily recycled than its ceramic counterpart. And by using 18% less glass than most other spirit bottles, it attracts a lower carbon footprint, helping Eden Mill to emphasize its sustainability commitment.

From an aesthetic perspective, the crystal cut dimple effect ties into the heritage of St Andrews and golf, replicating the style of bottle previously used on the Eden Mill distillery site back in the 1800s. An additional benefit of the design is that it provides much better pouring capability for the trade-in mixing and serving drinks, as well as in stock taking. The bottle is complemented by a printed shield label design on the front and a white cork stopper as a closure.

“Having listened to feedback from both trade and consumers, the new glass Love Gin design represents an important statement for Eden Mill,” said Tony Kelly, co-owner of Eden Mill. “By being 100% carbon-efficient, we aim to be the first carbon-neutral distillery by 2022, so from a sustainability perspective, moving to glass is the right strategy for the business. It also enables us to create some important production and supply chain efficiencies as a result.

“Once again Croxsons have provided an on-brand solution that not only complements our existing range, but also helps reinforce our heritage in a striking and stylish way, whilst providing some beneficial practicalities, particularly for the trade. It also helps that customers can see the beautiful pink colour of our gin in the bottle”.

Croxsons’ chief operating officer, Tim Croxson, commented: “Eden Mill’s ceramic look is well established, but the switch to glass has been important, not least in delivering increased sustainability. As a new addition, the new 70cl size bottle will be well suited to the trade for volume serves, stock takes and ease of pour, while the traditional 50cl Love Gin version will continue to delight consumers.”

Eden Mill and Croxsons are currently in collaboration on the development of a glass miniature Love Gin version, which will be used across the range in a variety of miniature packs.

Source: Croxsons

Beverage Packaging Conference is the ideal platform to talk about the impact of crisis on the sustainability agenda – whether it accelerates it or halts it but what will that mean to the whole packaging industry? Attendees will be able to explore and learn how the market is ensuring quicker timeframes and cost-effective operations so that your brand is closing the loop through sustainability and innovative approaches.

This virtual edition will deliver a full agenda with cutting-edge content to ensure a successful beverage packaging implementation post Covid-19. Attendees can stream live and prerecorded presentations from top tier speakers on topics such as sustainability, the 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to overcoming negative media coverage, educating your consumers and ensuring your products stand out on the shelves. Connecting with other industry leaders will also made possible and via the platform’s live chat and video chat features– equipping attendees with the ability to reach their peers and colleagues globally.

A preview of the key sessions:

• An insight into how COVID-19 influences the sustainability agenda. Hans van Bochove, Vice President, Public Affairs & Government Relations, Coca-Cola.
• REUSE: Out with the old, in with the new – implementing a modern returns system. Miguel De Sousa, Acting CEO, ECM Portugal.
• Educating the consumer – understanding how much your consumer understands and cares about the environment. Max Kaye, Director of Packaging Consultant, GlobalData.

Source: Arena International

Bradford-based The Label Makers for example, has seen a rapid increase in work for the rum category, the results of which saw the firm secure Label of the Year in last year’s UK Packaging Awards for a striking and complex embossed design.

More recently, The Label Makers has worked with Alderman’s Drinks to produce labels for their Arlu Rum range consisting of: Arlu Rum Original Spiced, Arlu Rum Passionfruit & Mango and Arlu Rum Blood Orange – the rum is made with liquid imported from Guyana’s Diamond Distillery and then blended with flavours and spices in Manchester. Alderman’s Drinks, which was founded in 2017 by Mark Smallwood and Liam Manton, also own the highly acclaimed Didsbury Gin brand, whose label was additionally produced by The Label Makers.

For this series of labels, The Label Makers digitally printed the designs onto Fasson Arctic White FSC material, which was then finished with a high build silk screen – the effect being a simple, yet sophisticated minimalist styling.

“We’ve worked with The Label Makers now for around 15 months, which started with their fantastic work on the Didsbury Gin label,” said brand marketing & PR manager, Amy Harrison. “For the Arlu Rum range, the paper choice for the project was really important, so we worked closely with The Label Makers to ensure we had the perfect match on quality to complement the design. The end result was an excellent quality label and exactly what we wanted – spot on! We’re looking forward to expanding both the Didsbury Gin and Arlu range with new flavours and will be calling on The Label Makers again for their assistance in progressing that.”

Commenting on the project, The Label Makers Alastair Fielding, said: “Working on the Arlu range was a real pleasure. We have a great working relationship with the client and look forward to building on this for the future.”

Source: The Label Makers

“Being the world’s first bottled water to be certified carbon neutral for both product and company, sustainability is in our DNA,” said Jon Olafsson, co-founder and chairman of Icelandic Glacial. “Accelerating our efforts by providing sustainable packaging options was the natural next step in our evolution as a company. We want to be at the forefront of sustainability.”

“We have always been committed to finding sustainable packaging solutions that provide an option outside of PET for our consumers to enjoy Icelandic Glacial water,” said Kristjan Olafsson, co-founder of Icelandic Glacial. “With this new initiative, we aim to further reduce the amount of plastic used across the entire line.”

“We have a strong innovation pipeline that is dedicated to sustainability,” said Reza Mirza, CEO of Icelandic Glacial. “We’re excited to be able to offer our consumers more sustainable choices. We also encourage them to participate in the process by recycling PET bottles, as the plastic will be reused repeatedly in our rPET bottles.”

Since 2007, Icelandic Glacial has been a leader in sustainability by using BPA-free recyclable packaging as well as running a completely sustainable operation fueled entirely by geothermal and hydroelectric power to fuel its production while maintaining a net-zero carbon footprint. Icelandic Glacial has worked closely with The CarbonNeutral® Company, a world-leading provider of carbon reduction solutions, to offset any carbon emissions by investing in renewable energy projects worldwide.

Source: Icelandic Glacial

“We are very excited to announce that our English packaging will be released mid-March! We think it will be very vital to the expansion of our brand as it will help customers understand the benefits of drinking Susosu Hydrogen Water,” said Jheen Oh, co-founder and chief executive officer of Susosu Water. “We are looking to continue our online presence but expand on our distribution as well, and having our packaging in English will allow us to secure more accounts.”

Susosu Hydrogen Water is all-natural premium mineral water from the springs of Uiseong, South Korea, infused with extra molecular hydrogen for many health benefits. Since the start of Susosu Water in 2018, they have been packaged in an environmentally-friendly aluminum pouch. As the healthy and organic market grows along with the awareness of hydrogen water, Susosu Water believes an informative packaging in English is necessary to help consumers understand the product and the value it brings to their health.

Source: Susosu Water