The German Packaging Institute has awarded its coveted packaging prize to the “PET lite 6.6” 500-ml bottle developed using Krones’ NitroPouch process at BRAU Beviale in November.
The innovative “NitroPouch” process also won the 2008 Water Innovation Award with Gold in the “Best Packaging Innovation” category, and the WorldStar Award from the World Packaging Organisation.
At 6.6 grams of PET, this new bottle constitutes a milestone in the field of lightweight beverage containers.
The “NitroPouch” concept, as the primary package, combines minimised material and energy consumption with maximised benefits for consumers and the natural environment.
With a mere 6.6 grams of PET, 500 millilitres of still water can be packaged.
Innovative features include dividing the bottle into different functional sections and the use of nitrogen to build up a defined pressure inside the bottle, so that it does not collapse during transport and handling.
This internal pressure enables the bottle to be handled dependably and transported on normal pallets.
The mouthpiece specially developed for this bottle dispenses with the neck ring otherwise customary, and weighs only 1.3 grams; the closure, too, is sensationally light at 1.1 grams.
The interaction of thread, closure, material distribution, design and the use of nitrogen was crucial in this breakthrough to achieve such a low-weight bottle.
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