As pottery-makers and glass blowers have known for thousands of years, the shape of a container is a powerful art form, says George Caplea, executive vice president of global business development for Constar Inc., Trevose, Pa. With the retail shelf as its canvas, a beverage package’s shape as well as its material type helps to differentiate the brand on the shelf.
According to a January 2012 Packaged Facts report titled “Food Flavors and Ingredients Outlook 2012,” 476 new non-alcohol beverages launched in plastic packaging in 2011, which was more launches than any other material type. However, use of plastic packaging for non-alcohol beverages decreased 25 percent from 2010 to 2011, the report noted.