McLaren Packaging Rolls Out Recyclable Whiskey Tubes to Tackle Waste

McLaren Packaging, a specialist supplier of sustainable paper-based solutions to the UK Food and Drinks sector, is proud to announce that it has developed an innovative range of easily recyclable presentation tubes for spirits. 

Presentation tubes are synonymous with whiskey and sought after by brand owners where the range of shapes, in particular curved surfaces, allow more unique and creative design opportunities while embellishments are enhanced by the curves. McLaren Packaging’s latest innovations now allows for simpler and easier recycling of the metal and card components,  two of the most widely recycled materials. 

With the design and development stages now complete, several well-known brands have adopted the innovative packaging.

“We have improved the pack recyclability by developing a range of eco-friendly solutions for tubes of all shapes and sizes,” said McLaren Packaging’s Sales and Marketing Director, Michael McLaren. “For our shaped tubes, including square and truncated oval, we’ve introduced a vertical perforation, positioned discreetly on the side of the pack, allowing the paper body and metal base to be easily separated and recycled. We have a patent pending for this novel solution which ensures that the tube can be handled responsibly at end of life and have received approval from On Pack Recycling Label (OPRL)* in the UK.”

For the traditional round tube with a metal base, the company’s eco-design utilizes a horizontal perforation at the rear of the tube, enabling consumers to effortlessly remove the metal base for recycling.

By offering mono-material tubes or including a discreet line of perforations on the pack to separate the body from the base, McLaren Packaging has made it easy for disposal in domestic recycling bins. At the same time, the strength, structure and security of the packaging retains the same high standards that both brands and consumers have come to expect.

“We have also developed a mono material tube with a paper base which can be disposed of without the need for separation,” McLaren notes. “This tube contains no metal at all, so that the tube body can easily be placed in the paper recycling bin. Both tubes use a high percentage of recycled content, giving end-of-life paper fibers – which would have otherwise been wasted – additional life.’’

McLaren added: “The tube format is utilized by some of the leading brands in the Single Malt Whiskey category, with examples including Bushmills Single Malt Irish Whiskey. It is our role as manufacturers to ensure that the format allows our customers to offer the highest quality of presentation for their brands with the least environmental impact possible.”

As a proudly independent  Scottish business committed to minimizing the environmental impact of its products, McLaren Packaging is on a mission to support the spirits industry in reducing its environmental impact and making the switch to easily recyclable packaging. 

* OPRL (On Pack Recycling Label) are the UK’s independent experts in the recyclability of packaging which let consumers know if packaging can be collected for recycling or if it needs to be taken to a local recycling center. For more information visit: https://oprl.org.uk