Pulpex is moving into industrial production. Following its pilot plant in Sawston, United Kingdom, the British manufacturer of wood-fiber bottles has opened its first commercial plant near Glasgow, Scotland. The facility, which employs 39 people, has an annual production capacity of up to 40 million bottles across its 8,080 m² 2 . More than 90% of its capacity initially available for the current fiscal year is already committed to commercial contracts.
Among the first customers are Smol, a brand of household cleaning products, and Purely Scottish Natural Mineral Water, which plans to market natural mineral water in these bottles. The packaging technology manufacturer is also preparing launches in the food, beverage, and personal care sectors.
To finance this industrial expansion, Pulpex raised 62 million pounds sterling (approximately 71.3 million euros) in February 2025. At that time, the company announced an additional annual production capacity of 10 million bottles.
Bottles molded in a single piece
The advantage of these innovative bottles lies in their wood-fiber composition, which reduces the use of plastic and glass?a process that, according to Pulpex, consumes more energy.
To manufacture them, Pulpex uses a patented wet-molding process for wood fibers. The pulp, mixed with water, is injected under pressure into a porous mold. Removing the water allows the body of the bottle to be formed in a single piece, without joining two shells together. After drying, the bottles are given an inner coating that ensures they are leak-proof.
This ultra-thin, spray-applied barrier is based on an aqueous polymer dispersion. Depending on the application, Pulpex also uses vapor-deposited layers. The manufacturer does not disclose their exact composition.
Pulpex states that its bottles can be recycled through standard paper and cardboard recycling programs.
Pulpex is expanding its licensed production
The Scottish plant will also serve as a model for Pulpex's future industrial partners. "The opening of our Glasgow plant marks Pulpex's transition from technology validation to industrial-scale validation." , explains Sandy Westwater, CEO of Pulpex.
The manufacturer has already entered into an agreement with Perlen Industrieholding, which holds exclusive manufacturing rights in Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and southern Germany. Alternicq has secured exclusive commercial development rights in India and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, in preparation for a potential manufacturing partnership.
Pulpex plans to eventually increase its global production capacity to one billion bottles per year.
