Pernod Ricard’s vodka brand Absolut has trialled a paper-based cap and bottle, reportedly marking an industry first as part of its vision to create a fully biobased bottle.

The cap was developed in collaboration with Blue Ocean Closures (BOC), a Swedish startup focused on reducing plastics through fibre packaging innovation.

BOC CEO Lars Sandberg said: “We are proud to partner with Absolut Vodka, a leader when it comes to packaging innovation, in bringing the paper-based cap to life.

“Real change must be a collective effort, and we are excited to learn from the feedback received by bartenders attending this trial.”

The bottle and cap were tested at an event this May, where bartenders evaluated their functionality, handling, and overall impression in real-life scenarios.

This trial builds on Absolut’s history of advancing environmental goals through innovative packaging, the company said.

In 2023, the brand introduced 'Absolut Paper', a single-mould paper-based bottle developed with Paper Bottle Company, trialled at select Tesco stores in the UK.

With no existing paper-based cap options available, Absolut partnered with BOC to design one.

The first-generation cap consists of over 95% Forest Stewardship Council-certified fibres, combined with a thin plastic top-seal barrier.

The long-term goal is to replace this plastic with a biobased material, making the entire cap renewable.

This shift is expected to reduce the carbon footprint compared to traditional materials such as aluminium. The cap is recyclable as paper in markets with systems capable of separating paper from other materials.

The paper-based cap and bottle are part of Pernod Ricard’s Future of Packaging initiative, which aims to promote sustainable choices in spirits packaging.

Following the trial at the 'Absolut The Map' event, Absolut plans to conduct further quality testing and a limited in-market trial as the next steps in development.

Absolut future packaging director Louise Werner said: “2023 saw the development of the Absolut paper-based bottle, a pioneering initiative that helped us push boundaries towards our fully biobased bottle.

"However, the final piece of the puzzle remained. Creating real impact is hard and change can only come about as a collective endeavour so we are thrilled to partner with Blue Ocean Closures to help us on the journey.”