Berry Global Group, Inc. was recently deemed the first-ever plastic packaging manufacturer in Europe to supply The Coca-Cola Company with a lightweight, attached closure for Coca-Cola's carbonated soft drink bottles made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate). More than 400 million closures have been implemented to Coca-Cola bottling lines in Germany, Spain and the UK, according to a press release.
“Innovation in packaging design is key to helping our customers meet their ambitious sustainability goals while delivering attractive, functional solutions that meet and exceed constantly evolving market demands,” said Thierry Bernet, VP circular economy and innovation at Berry Global. “Because PET bottles are the most recycled plastic package type, this collaboration has tremendous potential to help keep resources in use and out of our environment.”
The European Union Directive 2019/204 has set a deadline of July 2024 for beverage bottle closures to remain attached to the container throughout their use. This regulation aligns with Coca-Cola's goal to make all of its packaging recyclable globally by 2025. To achieve this, the company has teamed up with Berry Global to create a new, tethered closure for its beverage bottles.
Featuring a tamper-evident band that remains attached to the bottle even after being broken and is positioned for easy re-closure, providing a wide angle for convenient access to the beverage and comfortable drinking on-the-go, the addition is considered consumer-friendly. The new method is expected to result in a 20% reduction in weight compared to the current PCO-1881 neck.