India-based spirits producer Rhea Distilleries has introduced India’s first paper bottle, the Frugal Bottle, in a collaboration with UK packaging company Frugalpac and ITC’s packaging and printing business.

The announcement coincided with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s trade visit to India on 9 October 2025, during which he met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of efforts to deepen bilateral trade ties.

Frugalpac CEO Malcolm Waugh stated: “This is a pivotal moment for sustainable packaging in India.

“Collaborating with ITC and Rhea Distilleries not only brings an iconic Goan spirit to market in an eco-friendly bottle, it also sets the stage for a broader transformation across India’s drinks industry.”

Developed by Ipswich-based Frugalpac, the paper bottle is described as the world’s inaugural commercially available paper bottle for spirits and wines.

The product is constructed from 94% recycled paperboard with a food-grade liner.

Frugal Bottle is five times lighter than glass and has a carbon footprint up to six times lower.

The design allows the paper shell to be separated from the liner for disposal via existing waste streams, facilitating easier recycling.

The arrangement to introduce the British-made bottle to the Indian market was finalised during a Frugalpac visit to the country in September 2025.

The meeting promoted its collaboration with ITC and plans to bring both the Frugal Bottle and the manufacturing machines to South Asia.

Rhea Distilleries has placed an initial order of the bottles for its cashew apple brandy Fidalgo Premium Cashew Feni, which will be launched in selected Goa markets.

Beyond bottle supply, the partnership includes efforts to indigenise the liner and paperboard and to explore commissioning Frugal Bottle assembly machines in India.

It aims to scale production for the drinks market in South Asia and lessen logistical emissions.

UK trade commissioner for South Asiaand British deputy high commissioner for Western India Harjinder Kang stated: “The UK-India trading relationship is worth over £44bn each year. Our Free Trade Agreement will make it cheaper, easier and quicker to do business together – boosting trade by over £25bn every year in the long run. It will unlock many opportunities that promote growth and support job creation on both sides.

“This announcement, on the back of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s trade mission to India, is another fantastic example of a UK business reaping the benefits of the ever-strengthening trading relationship between our countries.”

Earlier in 2025, Frugalpac called for support from the domestic government to reform research and development tax credits and to improve access to innovation grants.