Berlin Packaging has announced it will be a primary stocking supplier for the eco.bottle™ molded fiber bottle from Ecologic Brands, Inc. The eco.bottle is a hybrid fiber-plastic product that uses up to 70% less plastic than traditional plastic bottles, with a molded fiber shell that is 100% recyclable and compostable.

The patented container is recommended for a range of consumer products, from pourable goods to beverages, personal care products, and even paints and stains. To recycle, users split open the side of the fiber shell, and the outer package separates. The fiber halves, made from old corrugated cardboard and newspapers, can be recycled up to seven more times; the #4 inner pouch and closure system can be recycled along with plastic grocery bags in retailer drop-off bins.

The eco.bottle line is available in a 50-oz size with a detergent-style dosing cap or twist cap, a 32-oz size with a detergent-style dosing cap or twist cap, and a 64-oz size with a 38-mm spout suited for orange juice and dairy products.

The bottles will be available starting January 2012. They can be supplied fully assembled, requiring minimal filling-line modification. They can also be supplied unassembled to the filler, allowing nine-times more bottles to be shipped per truck than empty blow-molded bottles and providing significant inbound freight savings. Assembled and filled eco.bottle containers pass International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) performance testing.

According to Berlin, production cost for the eco.bottle currently carries a premium. Marketers who adopt the package can anticipate a future cost comparable to traditional packaging materials over the next 12 to 18 months as automation and production capacity build. Furthermore, retailers carrying eco.bottle products can create a closed-loop system by funneling corrugated cardboard shipping materials from their loading docks back to the bottle manufacturer. Berlin Packaging’s Studio One Eleven design group can help companies create designs for specific applications.