Cove Packaging has launched its PB1 fibre-based bottles, said to demonstrate at least 84% success in paper waste sorting tests and anticipated to save up to 70% of CO2e emissions.
Cove says that single-piece fibre bottles have previously failed to scale up due to high unit costs, long cycle times, and rough surface finish.
Its PB1 solution is described as a scalable and high-performance alternative. Alongside bottles, it can be used to produce jars, tubes, mini formats, and more.
The PB1 bottle’s multi-piece architecture is believed to be compatible with existing moulded fibre and standard filling lines. It expects to speed up bottle production and unlock a ‘premium’ surface finish.
Customers can manufacture ‘virtually any’ container shape from 50 ml to 1 L in size. Direct printing, embossing, debossing, colouring, and labelling are all available for customized designs.
The whole bottle is designed to be processed in standard paper recycling systems and negate the need for consumers to separate components. Independent, real-world recycling tests conducted in Europe are said to have demonstrated 84%+ sorting success.
The bottle is also reported to meet Cepi’s Class A and B paper recyclability standards, even though the PB1 system is compatible with various film-based laminates for barrier protection; Cove sets its sights on biobased barriers with similar moisture and oxygen protection properties to conventional packaging solutions.
More independent testing suggests that PB1 achieves WVTR below 1.0 g/m2/day and OTR below 1.0 cc/m2/day, which is thought to ensure its suitability for products with long shelf-life requirements: liquids, creams, concentrates, etc.
Additionally, independent life-cycle assessments modelled scenarios that indicate a 30-70% reduction in CO2e emissions, depending on format and use case. This is attributed to material and energy reductions associated with renewable feedstocks, ‘excellent’ fibre-moulding processes, and recyclability in existing paper streams.
PB1 can also be used to produce refill pods. Made from 95% moulded fibre, the pods can be fully customized to suit brand, format and product requirements, then combined with reusable outer cases to form a fully refillable solution.
Cove Packaging hopes to help customers align with consumer demands, retailer mandates, and global packaging regulations.
In a similar development, PAPACKS was nominated for, and won, a Sustainability Award this year for its moulded fibre bottle. Described as a scalable, patented alternative to plastic bottles, the pack is believed to lower CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to standard PET or HDPE and is recommended for products like dietary supplements.
Earlier this year, Zipform Packaging unveiled a bottle made with 95% wood-based fibre and over 50% post-consumer recycled content. It replaces the conventional plastic liner with a moisture- and oxygen-resistant barrier layer in hopes of improving the pack’s recyclability.
If you liked this story, you might also enjoy:
The ultimate guide to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation in 2025
How are the top brands progressing on packaging sustainability?
Everything you need to know about global packaging sustainability regulation in 2025
The key to increasing the use of reusable packaging in supermarkets
No comments yet