SUPA Innovations is distributing handwash in a ‘plastic-free’ paper bottle, featuring a reusable metal hand pump and a waterproof lining made of sap from pine residue.
First launched for washing up liquids and laundry products in December 2022, the eco-mate bottle constitutes a recycled paper exterior and an internal coating made of seaweed and natural plant latex. This is intended as an alternative to the controversial use of plastic liners in other paper bottle designs.
Biodegradable accelerators have also been implemented into the bottle to fast-track its breakdown at end-of-life, with SUPA claiming that the bottle can be cut into pieces for home composting, recycled in existing waste streams, or thrown away in the garden waste bin – all without leaving microplastics behind, the company claims.
Now it has revealed the ‘world’s very first’ handwash in a paper bottle. Its lining is made of sap derived from pine residue, which is said to maintain a twelve-month shelf life, while its hand pump is made from matt black metal. Consumers are encouraged to reuse the pump in future refill bottles.
Altogether, these components aim to phase out soap pumps and dispensers made of plastic, and to lessen reliance on ‘hit and miss’ recycling methods.
SUPA adds that the eco-mate bottle is manufactured at its ‘eco-factory’ in Rutland, England, which claims to run entirely on renewable electricity.
The news comes as Pulpex packages refills of Evolve Organic Beauty’s shower products in fibre-based bottles – another move set to cut down on plastic waste. Once empty, the bottles can reportedly be recycled alongside paper and cardboard.
Zipform Packaging has also revealed a paper bottle made with 95% wood-based fibre and over 50% post-consumer recycled content. Its alternative to plastic liners is a moisture- and oxygen-resistant barrier layer that claims to maintain the pack’s recyclability.
Meanwhile, paper wine bottles from Frugalpac have gone on sale at Target in hopes of saving almost 87.8 tons of CO2e. Each bottle is made from 94% recycled paperboard with a pouch made from the same polyethylene metallized polyester laminate used in bag-in-box wines.
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