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Recyclable premium drinks packaging: paper-based tube packaging explained

03 November 2022 By db staff writer

Many premium drinks providers are making moves to improve their sustainability initiatives and reduce the impact they are having on the planet. Last year Nc’nean, the Highland distillery, was the first to go net zero in the UK, and many other premium drinks brands are following suit.

From decarbonising during the production process of spirits to minimising water waste, there are many sustainability challenges facing the industry. One area that has often come under scrutiny is packaging for premium drink products, with many brands using tube packaging, which features metal at either end, preventing them from being recycled. Consumers are required to cut off the bottom of these tubes using scissors or a knife in order to recycle them, which is affecting the recycling rates of the products and undermining the environmental benefits of paper tube packaging.

There is, however, a straightforward solution for this less sustainable drinks tube packaging. Smurfit Kappa has addressed this challenge by bringing its paper-based tube packaging product to market. Sustainable drinks tube packaging solutions Tube packaging for the drinks industry is an easy and effective way to improve brand awareness, create shelf disruption, and emulate your product’s quality. From high-end spirits to gift packs, there are so many reasons that drinks manufacturers choose tube packaging for their premium products.

It has created a sustainable and recyclable solution for premium drinks packaging as part of its Better Planet Packaging initiative. The paper-based solution is an evolution of the
traditional composite tube. It is 100% recyclable and customers can use a number of kerbside and readily available recycling schemes. With its innovative paper-based tube alternative, it has been able to retain the luxurious and recognisable look and feel of more traditional drinks tubes. All this is available with the added benefit of sustainability, which has no impact on the strength or performance of the packaging.

The sustainable tube solution works by allowing easy separation of the base from the tube via minimal perforation. When consumers are finished with the tube packaging, all they need to do is press on the base of the tube to break the small perforation and remove the base completely. The tube and base can then both be placed in standard recycling bins. The tube itself can be printed with high-quality graphics and various decorative options are available, including foil blocking, high-build varnish, deep embossing, and digital printing. The base and lid can also be branded to match the product, and colour matching and embossing are also available to meet your unique requirements. Internal liners can be included for an added layer of product protection and to further enhance the appearance of your packaging. All these additional features are completely sustainable and 100% recyclable.

Why choose paper-based tube packaging for your premium drinks?
Drinks manufacturers of all shapes and sizes can benefit from recyclable, paper-based tube packaging solutions. The unique solution from Smurfit Kappa can help brands to improve their image and meet their sustainability goals. Consumers are more conscious of recyclable packaging and sustainable products than ever before, so by offering sustainable drinks tube packaging, you can stand out from the competition. Smurfit Kappa’s recyclable solution can help your products gain a competitive advantage and keep your customers satisfied.

Placing premium drinks products in tube packaging is a tried and tested method of encouraging in-store sales and creating shelf disruption. With the paper-based tube packaging, this is possible while also meeting green initiatives and keeping sustainability a priority. Many drinks manufacturers are choosing Smurfit Kappa’s more sustainable solution for premium gin, whisky, wine, and more.

The popular paper-based tube packaging is part of Smurfit Kappa’s certified Chain of Custody, which guarantees that the supply chain is verifiably sustainable. The Smurfit Kappa team understands how critical sustainable packaging solutions are for both the planet and businesses, and it has taken it on as its own responsibility to ensure every product it supplies meets the highest Chain of Custody standards. Plus, the materials it uses derive from FSC forest management certified forests, which “confirms that the forest is being managed in a way that preserves biological diversity and benefits the lives of local people and workers, while ensuring it sustains economic viability.”

Smurfit Kappa has helped a range of manufacturers switch to sustainable packaging for drinks products, including Clydeside Distillery. Discover how it benefited from fully
recyclable paper tube packaging.

For more information on sustainable drinks tube packaging, click here.

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