HP shows it hasn't lost its bottle with sustainable packaging acquisition

PC and print giant plans to scale Edinburgh-based zero-plastic paper bottle maker Choose Packaging's technology and customer base

HP has acquired a Scottish maker of zero-plastic paper bottles as part of plans to disrupt the $10bn fibre-based sustainable packaging market.

Based in Edinburgh, Choose Packaging is the inventor of the "only commercially available zero-plastic paper bottle in the world", according to HP.

By scaling Choose' technology and customer base, the PC and print giant is aiming to make a dent in the 150 million annual tonnes of single-use plastics it says are produced each year.

HP claims it already has a foothold in the $10bn fibre-based sustainable packaging market with its 3D printing-enabled Molded Fibre Tooling Solution. It will now integrate Choose into its Personalization & 3D Printing business as it ramps up its focus on this vertical.

"This acquisition is a great example of how we continue to strengthen our capabilities in attractive verticals like sustainable packaging while also driving progress against HP's broader sustainability goals," said Savi Baveja, Chief Strategy & Incubation Officer, HP Inc.

Choose's paper-based bottles are made with naturally occurring and non-toxic materials. Its customers include Accolade Wines, Malibu Rum and consumer and industrial goods giant Henkel.

"As a plastic-free packaging development company, we've successfully created technology that can provide a viable alternative to plastic bottles to help eliminate single-use PET packaging," said James Longcroft, founder and managing director, Choose Packaging.

"HP's world-class capabilities and expertise can help scale our impact at a global level."