Frugalpac, the Ipswich-based clean technology firm behind the world’s first commercially available paper wine and spirits bottle, has launched a £5 million equity fundraising campaign to accelerate its global growth and expand into new sustainable packaging formats.
The investment round, hosted on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube, has already secured £1 million from existing and new backers ahead of its public launch. Frugalpac is inviting customers, partners and members of the Crowdcube community to take a stake in a business it says is “transforming the packaging industry”.
The company’s flagship Frugal Bottle is made from 94% recycled paper and has a carbon footprint 84% lower than glass. It is five times lighter, fully recyclable, and is already used by more than 50 drinks brands across 27 countries, including Greenall’s Gin, Silent Pool, When in Rome Wine and Bonny Doon. The bottle has been stocked by major retailers such as Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Laithwaites, Ocado, Target, Whole Foods Market and 7-Eleven.
Since launch, over three million Frugal Bottles have been produced, preventing an estimated 1,400 tonnes of CO₂ emissions — equivalent to powering 292 homes for a year or taking 3,267 petrol cars off the road.
Frugalpac plans to use the new funding to deploy more Frugal Bottle Assembly Machines (FBAMs) globally, develop new products such as recyclable paper paint pots, and scale production to meet rising demand. The company has already sold machines to Monterey Wine Company in the US and KinsBrae Packaging in Canada, with another order placed by Mother of Pearl Vodka in Australia. A high-speed FBAM2 model is currently in development.
Demand is strong, with Frugalpac handling more than 2,000 enquiries, 100 live customer quotations, and 50 serious expressions of interest from packaging companies worldwide, including in India, South Africa and Europe.
Frugalpac’s CEO Malcolm Waugh said: “Our mission is simple. We’re offering a scalable alternative to glass that reduces emissions, supports circularity and is already being embraced by the drinks industry. This crowdfunding allows eligible investors to back a proven technology at a crucial moment – and help us accelerate our impact around the world.”
The company is also working on a Frugal Paint Pot with a major international paint brand, as well as pipeline products including a takeaway beverage Frugal Cup and Frugal Pots for food and FMCG.
According to Euromonitor, the global market for 750ml wine and spirits bottles is 33 billion units annually. Frugalpac aims to capture 0.58% of that by 2029 – equal to 191 million bottles per year – through the rollout of 22 machines, a target that could generate £51 million in annual revenue. The business projects profitability from Q2 2026, with revenues rising from £2 million in 2024 to £51 million by 2029 and pre-tax profit hitting £27 million.
Frugalpac’s innovation has won global recognition, including the King’s Award for Innovation 2024. Its “Cardboardeaux” wine bottles were even presented to King Charles and Queen Camilla during their state visit to France.
Waugh added: “We’re not just building packaging — we’re building a better future for the planet. And the opportunity to join us in the next stage of our paper packaging revolution.”
