PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottles have long been the main force in the field of beverage packaging, and their wide application and popularity are self-evident. The reason why PET plastic bottles can occupy such an important position in the market is mainly due to their many advantages.
First, PET materials have good transparency and glossiness, which can clearly show the color and state of beverages and attract consumers' attention. At the same time, PET plastic bottles are light, strong and not easy to break, easy to carry and transport, and greatly reduce logistics costs.
Secondly, the molding process of PET plastic bottles is mature and the production efficiency is high, which can meet the needs of large-scale production. This makes PET plastic bottles have great advantages in cost and become the preferred packaging material for many beverage manufacturers.
However, with the increasing awareness of environmental protection and the increasing demand of consumers for sustainable packaging, PET plastic bottles are also facing some challenges. Although PET materials are recyclable, in the actual recycling process, the recycling rate of PET plastic bottles is not ideal due to factors such as the imperfect recycling system, insufficient consumer recycling awareness, and limitations of recycling technology.
As the global low-carbon sustainable trend sweeps across industries, plastics have become the primary target of the green revolution in packaging due to their low recycling rate and high energy consumption. A large number of alternatives have been enthusiastically sought after. Among them, aluminum cans with high recycling rates and high environmental contribution rates are recognized as the preferred alternative to plastic packaging.
In 2018, the British mineral water brand Life Water launched aluminum cans for mineral water as part of its cooperation with the Natural History Museum in London.
According to data, the recycling rate of aluminum containers is more than twice that of similar products in plastic, glass and paper boxes; compared with other liquid packaging alternatives such as plastic and glass, the recycling, transportation and distribution process of aluminum also has a much smaller footprint. And aluminum is a higher-value commodity, so manufacturers have a greater incentive to recycle and reuse this environmentally friendly material.
In recent years, aluminum bottled drinking water has frequently appeared in beverage innovation awards and packaging competitions, and most of these products have been put on the market.
Rewater pure still water in the UK is the world's first 100% recycled aluminum mineral water bottle. The product is made from British spring water and 100% recycled aluminum as packaging material, allowing the water to stay cool and fresh for longer; the aluminum bottles can be refilled, reused and recycled after use. The product won the Metal Packaging Award at the 2021 UK Packaging Awards
Lofoten Arctic Water is a natural high-quality water from the Lofoten Islands in Norway. The product is made from clear mountain spring water, and the packaging is designed by the well-known designer Strømme Throndsen Design into a recyclable aluminum bottle with a screw cap, made by Ball Corporation, the world's leading aluminum can and aluminum bottle manufacturer. This packaging can minimize the amount of microplastics that end up in the ocean. With this concept, the product won the Global Water Drinks Awards 2021.
Heart Water from the United States is an alkaline bottled water made from rainwater. The packaging is made of 100% recyclable aluminum, does not contain bisphenol A, and is reusable; the contents come from "cloud water" that has never touched the ground, and are added with Himalayan pink salt, which is rich in electrolytes and antioxidants. According to the official website, the new packaging of the company's products will use 100% recycled kraft paperboard, and part of the sales profits will also be used for children's charities.
Breaking away from the traditional perception of purified water/mineral water, the American brand Open Water refreshed the category impression of aluminum bottle applications with an electrolyte sparkling water. The brand's product packaging uses an average of 73% post-consumer aluminum, all made of high-quality shatterproof aluminum, and comes with a reclosable screw cap. It is reported that Open Water is the world's first bottled water brand to obtain "climate neutral" certification.
Tea drinks are also changing to PET packaging. This year's "World Earth Day", Japan's well-known tea brand MUJI (MUJI) will gradually replace plastic bottles with aluminum bottles, and the first batch of new packaging will have 12 models. The 330ml aluminum bottle packaging continues MUJI's consistent style and temperament, and the presentation effect on the shelf is surprising.
The most subversive of cognition is aluminum bottle wine. From glass bottles to metal cans, outdoor drinking scenes have put forward a demand for changes in wine packaging. In addition to being easier to open and lighter to carry, the change in material also means a change in the drinking experience. How much can consumers accept metal cans/bottles of wine? In 2019, WICresearch, an industry research organization that tracks canned wine, conducted a consumer survey. Among the nearly 3,500 American consumers who participated, 63.6% of men and 48.3% of women said they would try aluminum canned wine. In the blind test, which is more of a test of "consistency between words and deeds", the proportion of people who like bottled taste is comparable to that of canned (48.5% vs 45.3%). It seems that there is a considerable new market behind aluminum canned wine. The American brand TRIVIUM PACKAGING Lola has launched the VQA wine series packaged in aluminum bottles in response to consumer trends. The product is produced by Pelee Island Winery, one of the oldest wineries in Canada. The bottle is decorated with elegant floral patterns and its shape is quite similar to that of traditional wine glass bottles. The product was shortlisted for the "Best Alcoholic Beverage" of the 2021 Global Beverage Innovation Awards and won the "Highly Recommended" award from the organizing committee.
Overseas markets' attention to and adoption of aluminum packaging have entered a white-hot stage. In order to completely get rid of dependence on disposable plastic bottled water, foreign brands are joining forces to promote this revolution.
