Australian drinks brand Mother of Pearl Vodka of the Sea has made a significant debut at the Bar Convent Singapore trade show, introducing the “world’s first” Australian vodka in Frugalpac’s paper Frugal Bottle. This release marks a milestone as the first time an Australian brand has embraced the “world’s only commercially available paper bottle for wines, spirits, and olive oils.”

The paper Frugal Bottle, composed of 94% recycled cardboard, is highlighted for being five times lighter and boasting a carbon footprint six times lower than traditional glass bottles. The Mother of Pearl Vodka Frugal Bottle was prominently displayed at the Emerging Brands Pavilion at the Pasir Panjang Power Station during the trade show.

Nic Hancock, co-founder of Mother of Pearl Vodka, expressed pride in being the first Australian producer to use the Frugal Bottle for their premium grape-based vodka. He stated, “[We’re] thrilled to be holding the world launch of the Mother of Pearl Vodka of the Sea paper bottle at Bar Convent.” Hancock, with a background in 5-star hospitality, emphasized the product’s stylish innovation and its potential to reduce both the brand’s and the broader hospitality industry’s carbon footprint.

The Frugal Bottle, weighing 83g before filling, offers 360-degree branding for enhanced shelf presence. Frugalpac encourages wineries, distillers, and packaging businesses to invest in Frugal Bottle assembly machines to meet the increasing demand for eco-friendly packaging. An independent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) conducted by Intertek underscores the bottle’s lower carbon and water footprints compared to glass and plastic counterparts.

Frugalpac CEO Malcolm Waugh welcomed Mother of Pearl as the first Australian drinks producer to adopt the paper Frugal Bottle, expressing delight in their entry into the “paper bottle revolution.” Hancock, looking ahead, highlighted the vast opportunities for the shatterproof, lightweight packaging, stating, “The opportunities for this shatterproof, lightweight packaging are huge, and we’re delighted to be early adopters of it and excited to see how far we can push into new markets.”

This development aligns with Frugalpac’s recent recognition as “SME of the Year” in the UK Green Business Awards and the recipient of the “Innovation of the Year” award at the East Anglian Daily Times Business Awards 2023.