As a majority shareholder, ALPLA will now invest to extend the manufacturing capacity of Paboco to start producing a next generation of 100% recyclable paper bottle
ALPLA has become the majority owner in bio-based packaging solutions maker Paboco. (Credit: ALPLA)
Austria-based ALPLA has become the majority shareholder in Paboco, a Danish joint venture (JV) it founded in 2019 with Billerud, a Swedish plastic packaging maker and pulp and paper manufacturer.
Paboco (The Paper Bottle Company) is engaged in the development of bio-based packaging solutions using pulp-forming technology.
ALPLA has acquired the shares of Billerud in Paboco. The financial details and other terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
As a majority shareholder, the Austrian plastic packaging maker will now invest to extend the manufacturing capacity of Paboco. A minority share in the Danish firm is maintained by Jesper Servé, which represents the founding family.
The Danish venture plans to start producing the next generation of 100% recyclable paper bottles by the end of 2024.
ALPLA CEO Philipp Lehner said: “Safety, affordability and sustainability are the central criteria of our packaging solutions.
“After several years of intensive development and groundbreaking innovations, the Paboco team is now ready to take its pioneering product to the market and establish the paper bottle as a sustainable alternative for a wide range of customers.”
Paboco plans to set up a new manufacturing site and development centre in Denmark for the market launch of its latest offering.
The investment from ALPLA is expected to support the fast industrialisation of the fully recyclable paper bottle made from Forest Stewardship Council-certified fibres.
Additionally, the number of employees at Paboco is expected to increase significantly by the time series production begins. Currently, the firm has 18 employees.
Paboco CEO Tim Silbermann said: “The vision of the fully bio-based 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.”