Queensland is positioning itself as a world leader in sustainable live-event venues, with paper bottles, trailed with selected spirits and wines at Suncorp Stadium, during the 2025-26 concert season including Lady Gaga, ACDC, Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Ed Sheeran.
This initial engagement is at the forefront of delivering the light weight ergonomically and safety alternative, in partnership with Stadiums Queensland, Suncorp Stadium and O’Brien’s Group, and supported by the Queensland Government - represents a move towards lighter, lower-carbon paper packaging for wines and spirits for events across the state.
Mother of Pearl in conjunction with Paper Bottles is the first company to supply wines and spirits; Vodka, Gin and Wines; Pinot Gris, Rose, Chardonnay and Shiraz in paper bottles for the Australian and Southeast Asian market.
Queensland is showing how venues can reduce their environmental footprint in practical, scalable ways, moving towards lower-carbon packaging for wines and spirits - including at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Paper Bottles are significantly lighter than glass, reducing transport emissions and improving safety in high-density environments, while supporting Queensland’s ambition to lead the world in sustainable venues events, airlines, cruise ships hotels & resorts and marine craft.
The Frugal Bottle is 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.
The bottles were supplied locally by Mother of Pearl’s Paper Bottle Wine Range, an Australian company producing, filling and supplying wine in paper bottles for the domestic and international market, and founded by the team behind Mother of Pearl.
Nic Hancock, CEO and Co-founder of Mother of Pearl Vodka and Paper Bottles, said the concerts represent a shift from trial activity to long-term adoption.
He added: “Using paper bottles at events like Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga shows what’s possible when venues, government and suppliers work together.
The Frugal Bottle has already been proven on the world stage.
In June 2023, Coldplay became the first music act in the world to use paper wine bottles at a major concert, serving wine in Frugal Bottles at their shows at Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
Across four sold-out shows, all 8,000+ bottles of white and rosé wine in Frugal Bottles were sold. The switch from glass to paper bottles delivered a carbon-dioxide-equivalent saving of 7.3 tonnes, as independently calculated by Carbon Cloud.
Malcolm Waugh, CEO of Frugalpac, welcomed Queensland’s leadership in sustainable venues. He 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.