Smol launches Pulpex fibre detergent bottle as Pulpex raises USD 83.0m (GBP 62m)
UK homecare brand Smol has rolled out a wood-pulp fibre laundry detergent bottle using Pulpex technology, targeting the 58 million plastic laundry liquid containers sold annually in the UK. The launch follows a GBP 62m (USD 83.0m) funding round at Pulpex, including GBP 43.5m (USD 58.3m) from the UK National Wealth Fund, to build the company's first commercial-scale manufacturing plant in Scotland. Pulpex says the bottle, fitted with a recyclable plastic dosing cap, has passed the 4evergreen recyclability methodology for paper mill processing.
Why this mattersA first at-scale fmcg deployment of paper detergent bottles tests whether fibre packaging can displace plastic in a high-volume, liquid-fill category.
- Smol's bottle uses Pulpex wood-pulp fibre technology with an ultra-thin water-based barrier lining.
- It targets 58 million plastic laundry liquid containers sold in the UK each year, over 8,120 tonnes of plastic.
- The bottle passed the 4evergreen recyclability methodology for paper mill processing.
- Pulpex has raised a GBP 62m (USD 83.0m) funding round, including GBP 43.5m (USD 58.3m) from the UK National Wealth Fund.
- The funding will build Pulpex's first commercial-scale manufacturing facility, in Scotland.
- Unilever unveiled a prototype paper detergent bottle for its Omo/Persil/Skip/Breeze brands five years earlier but has not launched it in UK grocery.
- Pulpex has built the manufacturing facility in Scotland financed by its GBP 62m (USD 83.0m) funding round.
- The Scotland plant is intended to bring paper water bottles to retail shelves amid tightening plastic packaging regulation.