Frugalpac, the British sustainable packaging company behind the world’s first commercially available paper bottle for wines and spirits, is highlighting how Sweden is accelerating the adoption of lower-carbon packaging, as a growing number of drinks brands launch products in paper bottles across the country.
The latest listings underline how packaging with a significantly reduced carbon footprint is increasingly acting as a route to market in sustainability-driven and tightly regulated alcohol retail systems. Sweden’s state-owned alcohol retailer Systembolaget is widely regarded as a global benchmark for environmentally led product selection.
Paper Bottles Enable Systembolaget Listings
During Q4 2025, producers Fluid Minds (Sweden), Distillerie du Peyrat (France) and Belizean Blue Spirits Company (Netherlands) all secured Systembolaget listings using the Frugal Bottle, demonstrating how lower-carbon packaging is being used as a competitive advantage in highly selective tenders.
These new launches join a growing portfolio of brands already listed in Systembolaget in Frugal Bottles, including Buen Vato Tequila Blanco by Alias Smith and Arniston Bay Sauvignon Blanc by South African producer Stellenbosch.
About the Frugal Bottle
The Frugal Bottle is made from 94% recycled paperboard and features a recyclable food-grade pouch liner. Compared with traditional glass bottles, it is:
- Up to five times lighter
- Uses 77% less plastic
- Has a carbon footprint up to six times lower
Sustainability-Led Alcohol Retail in the Nordics
Systembolaget assesses packaging based on measurable environmental performance, rather than tradition, allowing premium wines and spirits to be sold in non-glass formats where clear sustainability benefits are demonstrated. In certain categories, tenders now specify paper bottles as a requirement.
Similar state-controlled systems operate across the Nordic region, with Norway’s Vinmonopolet and Finland’s Alkoalso placing increasing emphasis on sustainability in product selection.
Together, the Nordic alcohol monopolies are helping to drive a broader shift toward lower-carbon packaging across the global drinks industry. Frugal Bottles currently listed in Vinmonopolet include an Italian red wine by Casa Volpi and Querencia Garnacha 2024 by Spain’s San Alejandro, while Alko carries Famiglia Grillo Organic Red 2022.
New Paper Bottle Launches in Sweden
Cocktail: Tapdance Espresso Martini
Produced by Gothenburg-based Fluid Minds AB, Tapdance Espresso Martini blends Swedish vodka with espresso and coffee liqueur. Designed for modern consumption occasions, the ready-to-drink cocktail is best served chilled over ice.
Ludwig Herbert Dinsmore Matsson, CEO and Managing Director of Fluid Minds, said:
“Tapdance was created to rethink what ready-to-drink cocktails can be. This espresso martini brings together craftsmanship, modern flavour and lighter packaging in a format that fits contemporary drinking occasions.”
Cognac: Distillerie du Peyrat Organic Selection
Family-owned Distillerie du Peyrat, a pioneer in organic cognac production, has launched its Organic Selection Cognacat Systembolaget in a limited release of 4,200 bottles. The cognac is certified organic, aged for an average of three years, and produced without synthetic chemicals.
Antoine Rault, Cellar Master at Distillerie du Peyrat, said:
“Preserving our craft for future generations means protecting the environment it depends on. Sustainable practices and packaging are essential to passing on both our traditions and the essence of our cognacs.”
Rum: Belizean Blue Signature Blend
Belizean Blue Spirits Company has secured a Systembolaget listing for its Belizean Blue Signature Blend Rum, packaged in a special Fairtrade Frugal Bottle edition. The rum is crafted and aged for up to seven years by family-owned Travellers Liquors Ltd. in Belize.
Jacco Kroon, Founder and Managing Director of Belizean Blue Spirits Company, said:
“We are proud to combine Fairtrade-certified rum production with innovative sustainable packaging. Our Signature Blend reflects Belize’s heritage while demonstrating that responsible choices can enhance premium products.”
Lower-Carbon Packaging as a Route to Market
Commenting on the growing momentum, Frugalpac CEO Malcolm Waugh said:
“Systembolaget is one of the toughest alcohol markets in the world to win a listing. Lower-carbon packaging is no longer optional — it is becoming a requirement for market access.
“Our customers represent very different producers, but each has recognised that reducing packaging emissions strengthens their proposition in markets like Sweden.
“The Frugal Bottle offers brands a practical way to cut carbon without compromising on quality or shelf impact. The fact that some Systembolaget tenders now specify paper bottles is a strong validation of what we are working towards.
“As the Nordics continue to lead, they are setting a model the rest of the world will increasingly be expected to follow in 2026 and beyond.”