A leading magazine that discusses innovation and startup has named Tim Silbermann, the product development head for Paboco as one of the most creative people of 2021 in the business world. Silbermann rightfully stakes his claim over the title of making things that are not meant to last forever, in short, a product that is a part of the world circular economy agenda.
A product that belongs to the circular economy incorporates processes that eventually lead to production, consumption and recycling of the waste into one whole cycle. This is what Paboco, the paper bottle company stands for.
We are Paboco, the paper bottle company, and we have decided to become part of the solution for a sustainable future.
Enabling a robust and efficient way to multiply the idea of sustainable packaging for liquid goods - that is the challenge we take at Paboco, the paper bottle company.
Florian Müller, CTO at Paboco
The Story
Paboco started out as the response to a Danish startup EcoXpac's paper bottle project that was initiated in 2010. In 2015, the Carlsberg group had collaborated with EcoXpac to create a line of paper bottles using recycled fibres - "the green fibre bottle".
Simultaneously, BillerudKorsnäs AB, a Swedish paper and pulp manufacturing company that provides innovative packaging material and solutions to businesses, was working towards providing a sustainable solution to liquid packaging.
With a shared view towards innovation, EcoXpac and BillerudKorsnäs got together to create a partnership. Around this time, EcoXpac also got the US bottle manufacturing company, Alpha on board for developing a solution to address the plastic waste crisis. Thus, the paper bottle project of EcoXpac could now be continued in the form of a company suit and Paboco was launched in 2019. Thus, the vision to create the world's first 100% bio-based and recyclable paper bottle, gave birth to Paboco.
According to the EcoXpac profile, BillerudKorsnäs Venture and EASME-EU Executive Agency for SME's are the lead investors of the 2005 Jesper Serve founded green tech packaging service company. It had raised a net of $63.1K in funding over two rounds, the recent being the grant funding of €50K by EASME.
The Product
The standard first-gen bottle is available at 500 and 330ml capacities. The body is made up of sturdy fibre capable of handling internal pressures due to carbonation. High-class 3D wood-pulp moulding has been done to create an engaging interface and eye-catching aesthetics. Water-based inks have been used for standard printing or for embossing. However, the bottle has a thin plastic barrier between the bottle and the liquid stored inside. This barrier is capable of withstanding water vapour and oxygen transmissions. Additionally, it has a plastic cap for closure. But the plastic used can be recycled.
The company is still faced with challenges regarding a fully bio-based model that has an integrated paper neck with a thread structure and a paper cap for closure. According to a statement made by Silbermann, he promises that future iterations will have less plastic. “We’re doing a step-by-step approach to be faster to the market and to learn on the way,” he says.
Projects
As of 2021, Coca-Cola in Hungary had announced a prototype paper bottle made by Paboco for its dairy-free smoothie drink, Adez. Paboco has also teamed up with Absolut, L’Oréal, and Proctor & Gamble to create paper packaging bottles for their respective products.
Its Work Towards Sustainablility At Base
If paper is the base of the company then the question arises on its role towards active deforestation. But Paboco proudly states about working towards responsible forestry. Wood fibres are extracted from well-managed forests and for every tree harvested, two or three more are planted and allowed to grow up to an optimal stage. Carbon-dioxide binding is more in a growing forest rather than a fully grown one.
In addition to responsible forestry, the amount of reduction in plastic waste due to the usage of paper in an unconventional new approach is all that is needed to address the ever-growing concern. Thus, Paboco is at a commendable stage to climb the stairwell towards a better sustainable future for humanity.
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Image and Video Source ~ Paboco official website.
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