Amcor Rigid Packaging (ARP) has earned the US Plastics Industry Association 2023 Leadership in Sustainability Innovation Award for its innovations in plastics manufacturing, which further environmental advantages in design, material and end-of-life management.
“This award further demonstrates ARP’s stewardship and commitment to developing cutting-edge innovations for sustainable plastic manufacturing that advances the circular economy,” said Terry Patcheak, vice-president R&D, sustainability and program management at ARP.
"Our innovations are all examples of how we are providing our customers with sustainable plastic packaging solutions, and constantly innovating and improving to incorporate the latest advancements in technology and sustainability into our packaging.”
ARP innovations included Quantum Premium Lightweight Finish Technology, a two-step lightweighting technology that the company said eliminates more than 50 per cent of unnecessary material and weight in the finish of a PET bottle, demonstrating design that reduces manufacturing costs and GHG emissions, resulting in energy savings and lower carbon emissions compared to bottles with a traditional finish.
In addition, the PowerPost Lightweighting Technology innovation it submitted is an advanced lightweighting technology for hot-fill beverages. ARP said that by using vacuum absorbing technology, PowerPost delivers a fully recyclable bottle up to one-third lighter, with 30 per cent energy reduction, and 30 per cent carbon savings over most 600ml bottles available today. The company claimed it can be made with up to 100 per cent recycled material, and provides a superior consumer experience – no more spills from overflow when beverages are first opened.
ARP said its PepsiCo 2.5L PET Returnable, Reusable and Refillable Bottle is a 100 per cent recyclable and refillable PET bottle created for the Latin American region in partnership with GEEP, PepsiCo’s exclusive bottler in Mexico. Based on ARP’s lab testing and when compared to one-way or single use bottles, the PET bottles can be refilled and reused up to 25 times before being recycled.
PET bottles are lightweight, shatterproof, reclosable, resealable, reusable, and infinitely recyclable, using advanced recycling, the company explains.
In addition, it said independent studies show that PET bottles have significant environmental advantages when compared to glass bottles and aluminium cans.
Advantages include producing half the greenhouse gas emissions compared to an aluminium can, and one-third the emissions of a glass bottle, over their respective life cycles. Additionally, PET bottles have the lowest emissions due to their lightweight properties and the low amount of energy required for production. They also create less solid waste, use less water during production, and generate fewer emissions that contribute to the formation of acid rain and smog.
