The 12oz Ring Net PET container for food and beverage brands is lighter, more resistant to breakages and reduces transportation costs compared to glass, said the packaging giant.
The company said it developed the new bottle, designed for a range of products including sauces, dressings, condiments, and ready-to-drink (RTD) teas and juices, as a response to demand from the packing sector.
“Many packaging professionals told us they wanted to switch from glass but couldn’t find a PET equivalent,” said Latricia Fry, Amcor marketing manager. “Due to the heightened awareness of sustainability today, there was significant interest in a PET alternative that could bring light weight, recyclability, reduced breakage, and reduced carbon emissions.”
Absorbs vacuum
The container features the company’s PowerFlex technology. This is a patented panel-less design offers enhancements when hot-filling at temperatures around 185°F.
The structural design makes the containers easier to label as they don’t have sidewall vacuum panels. This means that packagers do not have to worry about missing the vertical bars in applying labels – so called ‘mislabelling’, said the company. It also solves the rippling effect that can occur when labelling over panels.
The bottle has been created to absorb vacuum via a patented base design. A diaphragm within the base draws upward as the liquid cool, said the firm.
"Powerflex technology allows us to direct the vacuum pull to the base of the bottle," Laurie Goetz, Amcor technical manager told FoodProductionDaily.com. "This enables us to provide a flatter surface for labels and a more glass-like look."
Two versions
The ring neck container is available in two versions: a three horizontal rib for 185°F hotfill applications, while the other has smooth walls for ambient temperature products at around 170°F. The new bottles are designed to mimic the appearance of glass and weigh 29 grams. The company said the bottles offer “a wide range of sustainability benefits including recyclability, reduced transportation cost, and a significantly reduced carbon footprint”.
The stock bottles are available in a 38mm 400CT finish and also a 38mm tamper-evident finish for beverage applications, said Amcor. PET formulations can include up to 100 per cent food-grade post-consumer resin. The bottles, currently being sampled, will become commercially available in June.