Fully Recyclable Paper-Tube Packaging Solution for Premium Drinks

The demand for sustainable and 100 per cent recyclable packaging is growing like never before, and this includes in the premium spirits market. At Smurfit Kappa, we are always striving to meet customers’ changing demands and our new 100 per cent recyclable drinks packaging solution, the Smurfit Kappa Eco-Tube, is a perfect example. We recently developed this revolutionary product, providing a more sustainable paper tube packaging solution and which allows the traditional paper tube to be 100 per cent recyclable within normal consumer recycling schemes.

The Eco-Tube means that premium spirit packaging can now be fully recyclable, so companies don’t have to choose between quality and sustainability. It is widely recognised that paper tube packaging, particularly in the drinks industry, offers many benefits such as on-shelf disruption. Now, this can all be achieved with recyclable packaging. The Smurfit Kappa Composites team recently completed a project for The Clydeside Distillery, which was the first ever fully branded, 100 per cent recyclable drinks packaging solution that we have launched for the whisky market.

Premium Recyclable Packaging For The Clydeside Distillery

The Clydeside Distillery was the first dedicated Single Malt Whisky distillery in the city of Glasgow, for over 100 years. Smurfit Kappa have worked closely with their sister company, A Dewar Rattray, on many previous packaging projects so welcomed the opportunity to work with The Clydeside Distillery.

The distillery was in the process of launching their first single malt whisky, Stobcross, and needed the perfect premium drinks packaging solution. As the inaugural Single Malt from The Clydeside Distillery, Stobcross needed packaging which was high-quality, luxurious, and showcased its uniqueness. At the same time, The Clydeside Distillery wanted to ensure their packaging was sustainable, so the Eco-Tube was the perfect fit. When The Clydeside team first came to us, they wanted the traditional values of tube packaging including strength and shelf presence. The opportunity to have all this as a fully recyclable option was exactly what they were looking for.

The packaging for Stobcross was our first branded Eco-Tube launched to market. The finished result is a stylish tube which carefully protects the product and stands out on shelves and in stores. The Clydeside Distillery opted for a design that represents the maritime history of Glasgow, which truly reflects their brand and product. Stobcross is currently sold in The Clydeside Distillery shop and on their website, and the company is planning an international rollout over the coming months.

One Hundred Per Cent Recyclable Paper Tube Packaging

Smurfit Kappa Composites devised the Eco-Tube under our Smurfit Kappa Better Planet Packaging initiative. We recognised the increased pressure that drinks manufacturers are under to adopt recyclable packaging solutions. Previously, these manufacturers had to choose between the benefits that tube packaging can deliver or providing a sustainable solution. The Eco-Tube solves this dilemma, enabling the traditional composite tube to be 100 per cent recyclable. This kind of packaging can be easily recycled using readily available consumer recycling schemes, such as local curb side pick-ups.

Our paper based tube performs in exactly the same way as traditional premium packaging solutions, with no compromising on strength or aesthetics. At Smurfit Kappa, we believe the Eco-Tube is the answer to meeting the ever-changing buying behaviours of consumers. Not only that, but it can assist businesses in meeting their sustainability goals and initiatives.

At Smurfit Kappa Composites, we offer scalable solutions for the paper based tube packaging solutions for the whisky market and beyond. If you are currently using paper tube packaging for your whisky, spirits or any other products, there is no need to lose consumer brand recognition when switching to a more sustainable packaging solution as additional finishes and full print options are still available.

For more information visit smurfitkappa.com/composites

About Smurfit Kappa  

Smurfit Kappa, a FTSE 100 company, is one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging solutions in the world, with approximately 46,000 employees in over 350 production sites across 36 countries and with revenue of €8.5 billion in 2020. We are located in 23 countries in Europe, and 13 in the Americas. We are the only large-scale pan-regional player in Latin America. Our products, which are 100 per cent renewable and produced sustainably, improve the environmental footprint of our customers.

With our proactive team, we relentlessly use our extensive experience and expertise, supported by our scale, to open up opportunities for our customers. We collaborate with forward-thinking customers by sharing superior product knowledge, market understanding and insights in packaging trends to ensure business success in their markets. We have an unrivalled portfolio of paper-based packaging solutions, which is constantly updated with our market-leading innovations. This is enhanced through the benefits of our integration, with optimal paper design, logistics, timeliness of service, and our packaging plants sourcing most of their raw materials from our own paper mills.

We have a proud tradition supporting social, environmental and community initiatives in the countries where we operate. Through these projects we support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on where we believe we have the greatest impact.

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