Gentlebrand has introduced its SmartWeighting approach through the Minera SmartWeighting still water bottle, aiming to demonstrate that lightweighting can be achieved in the beverage sector without compromising on performance, aesthetics or brand positioning.
The company says its SmartWeighting design and development approach focuses on optimizing how material is distributed and expressed within a bottle structure rather than just reducing material weight. It was developed in response to lightweight bottles often being associated with low‑cost products, making it difficult for beverage producers to pursue lightweighting without affecting perceived quality.
The Minera still water bottle was created in collaboration with engineering partner Competek, who supported the technical and industrial development of the project. The companies aimed to achieve an optimal container weight while guaranteeing strength and stability throughout production, from blowing and filling through to transport and storage.
Gentlebrand adds that the packaging is produced using 100% BioPET supplied by UPM Biochemicals and the label uses UPM Raflatac’s Vanish PCR film, creating a ‘no‑label look’ that improves perceived quality while supporting material reduction and recyclability.
The bottle design is said to alternate ‘clean, minimalist’ areas with functional elements that discreetly reinforce the structure. Apparently, the neck finish reduces excess material while improving handling and user experience, and development was supported through collaboration with international partners across the beverage supply chain to ensure industrial compatibility.
In related news, TotalEnergies Corbion has launched an embossed, label-free PLA bottle for the South Korean beverage market, designed to integrate into a closed-loop recycling system established with Sansu. By integrating brand identification into the bottle wall, TotalEnergies Corbion says the design allows bottles to enter recycling streams without additional processing, supporting cleaner material flows and higher-quality recycled output.
Sidel recently unveiled EvoFILL PET, its fastest filler for water and still beverages intended to optimize output, hygiene and flexibility with its redesigned filling valve, advanced fluid-dynamics engineering, and compact design. Optimized cleaning operations are set to reduce downtime, water usage, and chemical consumption.
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