Perlen secures exclusive partnership with Pulpex

Perlen Industrieholding AG is accelerating its transition into a diversified industrial powerhouse by becoming the world’s first manufacturing partner for Pulpex, the UK leader in sustainable packaging technology.

The agreement grants Perlen exclusive rights to manufacture Pulpex’s patented paper bottles in Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and Southern Germany. The company is currently assessing the industrial deployment of the technology, with a final decision on production — potentially starting as early as 2027 — expected following the evaluation.

The Pulpex technology represents a significant leap forward in the war against plastic waste. These fibre-based bottles are not only high-strength and water-resistant but also boast a carbon footprint up to 90% lower than traditional glass.

Key features of the new packaging include:

• Total recyclability: certified as recyclable in standard paper waste streams (4evergreen tested).
• Food-grade protection: An odour-neutral barrier coating ensures a commercially attractive shelf life.
• Versatility: suitable for everything from water, juice, and milk to beauty products, wines, and spirits.

The partnership leverages the existing infrastructure of Perlen Papier AG. Because the site already possesses extensive fibre expertise, it can create a truly closed-loop system: bottles can be disposed of in household paper recycling, returned to the Perlen site, and processed back into raw material for new packaging.

“Securing exclusivity with Pulpex enables us to bring a technologically leading solution for sustainable packaging to our core markets,” said Dr Florian Geiger, CEO of Perlen Industrieholding AG. “The paper bottle addresses key consumer needs for resource-efficient packaging while allowing us to leverage our existing expertise to create value through a functioning circular economy.”

For Pulpex, the deal marks the first step in an ambitious global scaling strategy. The company aims to empower its manufacturing partners to replace over one billion plastic and glass bottles by 2030.

Sandy Westwater, CEO of Pulpex, commented: “Combining Pulpex’s world-first, industrially scalable technology with Perlen’s industrial expertise is an excellent example of how a commercially viable alternative to existing formats can be brought to market quickly. This partnership is a powerful first step in offering brand owners and consumers a truly sustainable alternative.”