Approximately 55 percent of the plastic bottles manufactured in the United States are used for beverage bottling, and half of the plastic bottle manufacturing industry’s revenue comes from carbonated soft drink bottles, according to Santa Monica, Calif.-based IBISWorld’s Sept. 2013 report “Plastic Bottle Manufacturing in the US.”
Although the plastic bottle market in the United States serves a number of different industries and manufacturers, the beverage business continues to play a large role.
Bronco Wine Co. switched the packaging material for its 187-ml. single-serve bottles of wine from glass to lightweight PET bottles from Amcor Rigid Plastics.
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.
The role of caps and closures has been to seal and preserve the product inside. But as the years go on, that job description keeps getting longer and longer. Beverage-makers are looking for tops that reflect their brand; keep the environment in mind; offer color, printing and form options; provide ease of use for consumers; showcase innovation; and maintain product integrity and safety.
In the competitive beverage industry, innovation is key. In the last few years, companies have developed new categories, such as coconut waters, aloe-infused drinks and relaxation beverages. Because formulations like these are so creative, oftentimes their packaging must be, too.
American Beverage Corp. and The Biondo Group collaborated to redesign the packaging for Little Hug Fruit Barrels. The brand identity and package design firm stated that the Little Hug packaging incorporates water and fruit imagery to articulate strong flavor, refreshment and energy cues. The new brand mark incorporates the barrel-shaped bottle as a discrete icon and the name Fruit Barrels, according to The Biondo Group.
Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo’s Trop50 line of reduced-calorie juices re-launched in new clear, curvy bottles featuring pressure-sensitive labels from Mason, Ohio-based Spear USA. The new curves of the bottle are accented by a curvaceous new label from Spear USA that follows the contour of the bottle. The label features bold colors to complement the natural tones of the fruit juice, Spear USA says. The repackaged juice is available in 59-ounce bottles as well as single-serve 12-ounce bottles.