As technology continuously shows us, reducing the size and weight of products is a major market trend. Last fall, Apple launched the iPad Air, which is 28 percent lighter and 20 percent thinner than the previous-generation iPad, the company says. Similarly, in the beverage packaging industry, companies have been working to achieve lighter-weight bottles to reduce costs and be more eco-friendly. However, this strategy can only stretch so far.
“Beverage brands are limited by how much further they can lightweight bottles, so they’re looking for alternative source-reduction avenues,” explains Scott Keefauver, marketing manager for Sealed Air Corp., Elmwood Park, N.J. “Downgauging labels has become a popular source-reduction strategy as a result,” he says.