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Unilever will launch what it says is the first paper-based laundry detergent bottle.

A prototype has been developed for the leading laundry brand OMO (also known as Persil, Skip & Breeze) and will make its debut in Brazil in early 2022, and plans to launch it in Europe and other countries soon. Unilever is also experimenting with the same technology to make paper hair care bottles.

The technology was developed in cooperation with the Pulpex Consortium, which is a collaboration between Unilever, Diageo, Pilot Lite and other industry members. Unilever has been able to use this technology to pack liquid products in the first-of-its-kind paper bottles. According to reports, these paper bottles are made from sustainably sourced pulp and are designed to be recycled in the waste paper stream.

The inside of the bottle is sprayed with a proprietary waterproof coating, so that the paper packaging material can contain liquid products, such as washing powder, shampoo and conditioner, these products contain surfactants, fragrances and other active ingredients.

Richard Slater, Chief R&D Officer of Unilever, said: "In order to solve the plastic waste problem, we need to completely rethink how we design and package products. This requires a radical change, and this change can only be achieved through Industry-wide cooperation. Pulpex paper-based bottle technology is an exciting step in the right direction, and we are very happy to work together to test this innovation for our products.

"Innovation using alternative materials is a key part of our sustainable packaging strategy and will play an important role in our commitment to halve the use of virgin plastic materials by 2025."

Victoria Hattersley spoke with Steve Sena, vice president of business development at Truvant, a packaging service provider, to find out.

We discussed issues such as plastic leakage and packaging sustainability with Erin Simon, head of plastic waste and business at WWF.

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