Queensland is trialling paper bottles for selected wines and spirits at Suncorp Stadium during the 2025‑26 concert season, including shows by Lady Gaga, ACDC, Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Ed Sheeran.
The initiative is part of a move towards lighter, lower‑carbon packaging for wines and spirits at events across the state. Mother of Pearl, in conjunction with Paper Bottles, is supplying vodka, gin and wines, Pinot Gris, Rosé, Chardonnay and Shiraz, in paper bottles for the Australian and Southeast Asian market.
Paper bottles are lighter than glass, reducing transport emissions and improving safety in high-density environments. The Frugal Bottle, used in the trial, is said to be five times lighter than a standard glass wine bottle, produces up to 84 per cent less carbon emissions, and is made from 94 per cent recycled paper with a food-grade sleeve inside.
Nic Hancock, CEO and co-founder of Mother of Pearl Vodka and Paper Bottles, said the concerts mark a shift from trial activity to long-term adoption. “Using paper bottles at events like Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga shows what’s possible when venues, government and suppliers work together,” he said.
The Frugal Bottle has previously been used at major international concerts. In June 2023, Coldplay served wine in Frugal Bottles at Etihad Stadium in Manchester. Across four sold-out shows, all 8000+ bottles of white and rosé were sold, delivering a carbon-dioxide-equivalent saving of 7.3 tonnes, independently calculated by Carbon Cloud.
Malcolm Waugh, CEO of Frugalpac, said, “We’re thrilled to see our Frugal Bottles used at Queensland Suncorp Stadium’ concert series – particularly given Ed Sheeran is, like us, another global export from Ipswich, England. It’s incredibly rewarding to see a paper bottle designed in the United Kingdom being used at major international events to help venues cut carbon and set new standards for more sustainable live entertainment.”
Queensland’s trial demonstrates how venues can reduce environmental impact in practical, scalable ways, with potential applications for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as airlines, cruise ships, hotels and marine craft.
