Austria’s plastic packaging manufacturer ALPLA has announced it has become the majority owner of Paboco, a joint venture (JV) between ALPLA and Billerud. 

The entities have not disclosed the financial details and other terms of this transaction.

Established in 2019, Paboco is a Slangerup, Denmark-based company, specialising in manufacturing biobased packaging solutions using pulp forming technology. 

Under the latest move, ALPLA has acquired the shares of Billerud, a Swedish pulp and paper manufacturing company, in Paboco. 

As the majority owner, ALPLA will now invest to boost the existing manufacturing capabilities of the JV company. 

This investment will support Paboco’s plans to manufacture fully recyclable paper bottles using Forest Stewardship Council-certified fibres, starting from the end of next year.

To initiate the market launch of these paper bottles, Paboco is setting up a new manufacturing facility and development centre in Denmark. 

This move is expected to significantly increase the number of employees at Paboco, as production activities begin and gradually increase. The company currently has 18 employees.

ALPLA CEO Philipp Lehner said: “After several years of intensive development and groundbreaking innovations, the Paboco team is now ready to take its pioneering product to market and establish paper bottles as a sustainable alternative for a wide range of customers.”

Since 2021, Paboco has been performing a series of tests for its recyclable paper bottles in the market, in collaboration with various industry partners, including Carlsberg Group, The Coca-Cola Company, and L’Oréa.

In 2021, Paboco also teamed up with Procter & Gamble to create the first paper bottle for its Lenor fabric softener brand.

Paboco CEO Tim Silbermann said: “The vision of the fully biobased and recyclable paper bottle has driven the team to create amazing results in just a short development period. 

“With the bottle configuration now, we are targeting the beauty and fabric and home-care segment, but continuous development will also enable us to bring our next-generation bottle into further applications.”

This June, Paboco and the Absolut Company commenced an initial trial of single-mould paper-based bottles in the UK.