Frugalpac, the British clean technology company behind the world’s first and only commercially available paper wine and spirits bottle, has today launched an equity fund-raising to raise up to £5m to support its next phase of global growth, including developing paper paint pots.
Frugalpac, the British clean technology company behind the world’s first and only commercially available paper wine and spirits bottle, has today launched an equity fund-raising to raise up to £5m, using the crowdfunding platform Crowdcube, to support its next phase of global growth, including developing paper paint pots.
£1 million has already been secured from existing and new investors ahead of the crowdfunding launch.
The Ipswich company is inviting customers, partners, individuals and members of the Crowdcube’ investor community to make an investment and become shareholders in a business transforming the packaging industry.
People can now invest on Crowdcube here.
Frugalpac’s flagship product, the Frugal Bottle, is made from 94% recycled paper with a carbon footprint 84% lower than glass.
It is five times lighter than a traditional glass bottle, recyclable and already widely adopted by the drinks industry.
Since its launch over three million Frugal Bottles have been produced and by more than 50 brands in 128 different wines and spirits across 27 countries.
The bottles have been stocked by major global retailers, including Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Laithwaites, Ocado, Target, Whole Food Markets and 7-Eleven. Brands who’ve used the bottle include Greenall’s Gin, Silent Pool, When in Rome Wine and Bonny Doon.
The company’s first three million bottles have saved over 1,400 tonnes of CO₂ – equivalent to:
Charging 1,236 electric vehicles for an entire year
Powering 292 homes
Taking 3,267 petrol cars off the road
Now they’re raising £5 million on Crowdcube to:
- Expand Frugal Bottle Machines worldwide
- Launch new sustainable packaging like paper paint pots
- Accelerate their impact on carbon emissions globally
Malcolm Waugh, CEO of Frugalpac 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.”
Frugalpac has raised over £23.5 million to date from a loyal group of investors.
£1 million has already been secured from existing and new investors ahead of the crowdfunding launch on Crowdcube.
The company generates revenue by selling its proprietary Frugal Bottle Assembly Machines (FBAMs) to packaging companies and contract bottlers, while earning recurring royalties on every bottle produced.
Machines have already been sold and exported to Monterey Wine Company (USA) and KinsBrae Packaging (Canada), with another order from Mother of Pearl Vodka in Australia.
A new high-speed model – FBAM2 – is in development..
Demand is rising rapidly: Frugalpac is currently handling over 2,000 enquiries, with 100 live customer quotations and 50 serious expressions of interest for machine purchases including from packaging companies in India and South Africa and Europe.
Frugal Bottles on sale in Target in the US
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 market (191 million bottles per year) by 2029 through the deployment of 22 machines — a goal that would generate £51 million in annual revenue.
Frugalpac’s product innovation extends beyond bottles.
It has signed a development deal with a leading international paint company to bring its new Frugal Paint Pot – a lightweight, recyclable paperboard pot – to market.
Further pipeline products include a takeaway beverage Frugal Cup and Frugal Pots for food and FMCG.
Avallen Spirits co-founder Stephanie Jordan with their Avallen calvados Frugal Bottle
Frugalpac’s business model is designed for high-margin, scalable growth. Forecasts project revenues growing from £2 million in 2024 to £51 million by 2029, with a gross margin of 63% and pre-tax profit reaching £27 million in that same year. Frugalpac expects to be profitable from Q2 2026.
The company has received widespread global recognition – including the King’s Award for Innovation in 2024 — and been featured by CBS News, NBC, Channel 4, Forbes, the Financial Times, and more. Its “Cardboardeaux” wine bottles were even presented to King Charles and Queen Camilla during their state visit to France.
Malcolm Waugh added: “We’re not just building packaging – we’re building a better future for the planet. And the opportunity to join us in next stage of our paper packaging revolution.”
Discover how you can be part of Frugalpac’s growth journey by visiting our Crowdcube campaign at https://www.crowdcube.com/companies/Z14gNl/pitches/b0RdNl