UK - Retailer ASDA has launched a two-litre milk bottle, the GreenBottle, made from 91% recycled waste office paper, and is 99% recyclable.

This bottle is created and produced by GreenBottle Ltd based in Suffolk, UK. It has an outer shell made from recycled paper which can be further recycled after use, and an inner LDPE bag, which takes up less than 0.5% of the space of a traditional plastic bottle if put into a landfill, holds the liquid and prevents contamination of the paper outer.

This loose inner bag is inserted into a paper spout during the production process, and then folded and placed into the outer shell. The bottle rim is then glued, folded over, closed, and ready for filling.  After which, the spout is sealed and the GreenBottle is ready for retail shelves.

According to GreenBottle, the inner bag can also be made from an eco-friendly corn starch alternative.

ASDA chose to use the GreenBottle for its milk producs because of its high sales volume. “Milk is one of our highest selling products, and as such, we have a responsibility to develop alternative packaging making it easier for our customers to go green and to help them recycle at home,” explained Chris Brown, Head of Ethical and Sustainable Sourcing at ASDA.

“Also, unlike products that are being trialled by other retailers such as the pouch, this milk bottle is robust, practical and fit for purpose, meaning there is no danger of spilled milk at breakfast time.”

ASDA, through GreenBottle, is working in partnership with Suffolk dairy, Marybelle, to bottle locally produced milk for ASDA stores in the East of England.

Simon King, Chief Executive of Greenbottle, commented, “We are delighted to be distributing the GreenBottle through ASDA, who have been incredibly supportive. Our partnership is a perfect example of how environmentally friendly products can be taken to the mainstream.”

According to the latest government figures from WRAP, just 25% of plastic bottles in the domestic waste stream are currently recycled, with the rest going to landfill.

These innovative milk bottles launch as part of ASDA’s ongoing pledge to reduce packaging across its products while simultaneously increasing the amount of its packaging that can be recycled. According to the retailer, it is on track to achieve zero waste to landfill by 2010.

The new milk bottles will launch in the Lowestoft store in Suffolk, with plans for a wider roll out to take place to 14 stores throughout East Anglia later in 2008.