ALPLA’s recyclable wine bottle made from PET claims to weigh approximately an eighth of a glass bottle, halve its carbon footprint by 50%, and achieve price savings of up to 30%.
Available in 0.75L and 1L sizes, the bottle can apparently be produced entirely from rPET. It is thought to save both energy and materials during production, thus reducing carbon consumption.
Incorporating rPET into the product is thought to drive its carbon use down further. With 30% rPET, the bottle is expected to cut carbon by 43%, and bottles made from 100% recycled material are set to halve the ecological footprint of the original virgin solution.
Recyclate is sourced from ALPLA’s own ALPLArecycling recycling plants, the company explains.
As it is said to weigh around 50 grams, the PET bottle is set to be beneficial in transit and, depending on the requirements of individual products, lead to a cost reduction of up to 30%. It is designed for compatibility with both conventional metal screw caps and existing bottling lines used by winemakers.
“PET is light, unbreakable and recyclable, and can be moulded with little energy needed, making the plastic the ideal packaging solution,” says Daniel Lehner, global sales director for Food & Beverage at ALPLA. “With it, winemakers can improve their environmental footprint and lower their costs.”
Currently, pilot customer and development partner Wegenstein is utilizing the bottle for its white wine products. In this case, the bottle is claimed to reduce carbon consumption by 38% compared to its glass alternative, even without incorporating rPET into its design – although bottles made of either material are filled on the same bottling lines.
ALPLA anticipates that its work with Wegenstein is already contributing to a bottle-to-bottle loop in Europe; and that, starting in 2025, it will manufacture several million units a year. A solution made entirely of rPET is also in the works.
“The PET bottle lives up to what it promises,” states Herbert Toifl, managing director of the Wegenstein winery. “It is visually appealing, ensures our quality and is practical. We are making an innovative offer to consumers who care about our environment and our climate.”
“The bottle has been perfectly tailored to the bottling and shipment processes,” adds ALPLA project manager Sebastian Rosenberger. “The close cooperation with the Wegenstein team significantly sped up the market launch.”
Another rPET wine bottle stemmed from a collaboration between Aldi and Packamama. These ‘flat’ wine bottles are said to be almost seven times lighter than glass alternatives and streamline both transportation and storage.
In Hong Kong, Coca-Cola is contributing to its goals of achieving 100% recyclable packaging by 2025 and 50% recycled material across its packaging lines by 2030 by producing 500ml bottles made entirely of rPET.
Plastics Recyclers Europe calculates that the average PET bottle in the EU contains 24% recycled content – but, in order to meet EU targets for 2025, it warns that disparities between Member States must be resolved.
If you liked this story, you might also enjoy:
The Brief: How viable is biorecycling for plastics?
Report: How the top brands are progressing on packaging sustainability
The Brief: Using ocean-bound plastic in packaging – how, why and should we?
No comments yet