Sidel Develops Lightweight, Returnable, Reusable PET Bottle for Carbonated Beverages

With upcoming European regulations requiring beverage producers to embrace packaging circularity and returnable bottles, Sidel has developed a dedicated PET bottle for carbonated beverages designed for long-standing reuse.

In accordance with the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, the focus is on creating a circular economy where returnable bottles are at the forefront. With a target of 25 percent of bottles to be reusable by 2040, there is now increasing demand for returnable packaging and refillable production lines over a food grade bottle-to-bottle process.

For packaging manufacturers looking to introduce returnable bottles, PET is the material of choice. Using PET helps to reach lighter bottle weights and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

To meet the needs of the returnable carbonated beverages bottle market, Sidel experts have designed a PET bottle with a best-in-class weight and a high level of resistance which can withstand numerous washing cycles.

Robust bottle endurance

The returnable packaging design has been developed for sustained endurance and consumers can return the same bottle into a deposit scheme to be reused multiple times. This bottle is qualified to withstand up to 25 refillable loops.

Combined with a dedicated blowing process, the preform and structural design enable the bottle to endure high washing temperatures. The bottle also includes a reinforced neck to guarantee top bottle quality in neck-held washing and refill cycles.

Lightweight and fully recyclable

With the packaging industry aiming to reduce its material usage, this structural design is available in various bottle formats, such as 1L, 1.5L and 2L and provides significant opportunity for lightweighting. For example, the 1.5L bottle weighs just 77g and offers ultra-high performance with 28 percent weight saving compared to the market average.

Even when this new returnable bottle reaches the end of its useful life, it can be recycled into a new bottle, continuing the circularity of PET.

Proven expertise in PET packaging, blowing and complete lines

With more than forty years of leadership in blow-moulding equipment for PET bottles, Sidel offers dedicated solutions to support beverage producers’ switch to returnable bottles.

For example, Its EvoBLOW eHR range is a standout solution from Sidel and enables the highest preform reheating capability and blowing bottles in hot moulds. This results in increased bottle performance and an output of up to 1,300 bottles per hour per mould for CSD and carbonated water (for a 1L bottle).

Find out more about returnable bottles and how you can access this kind of support for your business on the Sidel website.