Subscribe & Stay Informed

Subscribe today for free and stay on top of latest news in food industry

    Close Menu
    Food Infotech
      Facebook YouTube LinkedIn
      Food Infotech
      • Home
      • Processing
      • Packaging
      • Logistics
      • Safety
      • Articles
      • Events
      • Jobs
      • More
        • E-Mag
        • Subscription
        • Newsletter
      Facebook YouTube LinkedIn WhatsApp
      Food Infotech
      Home»News

      Returnable PET for sensitive beverages?

      Claus CBy Claus CNovember 9, 2021Updated:November 10, 20213 Mins Read
      Krones Returnable Pet Containers
      Share
      Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

      Joint research project of Krones and Alpla delivers surprising results

      Rising out of the niche: In the Beverage Packaging Market, returnable PET containers currently play a rather small role. Wrongly so, say the results of a joint research project of Krones and Alpla. In the project’s first phase, the material and process parameters underwent a comprehensive scientific evaluation. Based on these findings, Krones and Alpla developed a returnable PET container that provides an optimal environment for sensitive ESL (Extended Shelf Life) products such as juice and milk in the cold chain.

      Be it due to regulations, voluntary climate targets, or growing environmental awareness among consumers, sustainability issues are becoming an increasingly important factor in packaging choice. “Which type of packaging performs best from an ecological perspective depends on a number of factors and must be evaluated individually for each use case,” explains Martina Birk, who is responsible for the enviro sustainability programme at Krones. But returnable PET containers often don’t even enter into consideration in the first place. “And yet they can offer outstanding environmental performance, especially if they are distributed mainly regionally,” emphasizes Birk.

      Bottle samples and cleaning processes tested

      Krones and Alpla teamed up to make these benefits available for use for a wide range of beverages. “Until now, the main applications for returnable PET containers have been carbonated soft drinks and water,” explains Jörg Schwärzler, returnables expert and project lead at Alpla. “But we were certain that, if we combined our expertise in materials science, preform design, container design and systems engineering, we could find a solution for sensitive beverages like juices and dairy products. The option of using a 38-millimeter bottle neck offers particular advantages for sensitive returnable applications.”

      The partners dedicated particular attention to the container cleaning process because “PET is less heat-resistant than glass,” explains developer Ines Bradshaw. “So we had to find a way to ensure both a high level of microbiological safety and a high number of use cycles while cleaning at lower temperatures.”

      To obtain an objective and meaningful base of data, Krones’ development plant for washing technology in Flensburg carried out an elaborate series of tests, analysing the interaction of different bottle designs and cleaning processes. “The tests provided us with a very clear picture of the respective thermal, chemical and mechanical factors,” says Bradshaw. “Among the findings: With the right combination of parameters – especially lye concentration, temperature, additive, and mechanical impact – temperatures around 60 °C are sufficient to reliably remove even dried protein, fat and starch contamination from the containers.”

      Direct comparison with returnable glass

      A direct comparison of returnable PET and returnable glass brought to light another interesting discovery: Over the course of several cleaning cycles, the alkaline cleaning medium visibly roughened the surface of the glass bottle, whereas nothing comparable could be observed with the PET containers. “For the filling of sensitive beverages in particular, consistent container quality can be an advantage that should not be underestimated,” notes Ines Bradshaw.

      Microbiological tests are currently being conducted to definitively establish whether the technology is safe. Initial results confirm the observations made thus far: “Microbiologically, PET bottles that had gone through 25 cycles could not be distinguished from new ones,” says a very pleased Ines Bradshaw. With this proof of concept, the project has reached an important milestone and is now ready for the next major step: Preparations are already well underway for the technical field test.

      ALPLA Dairy Environmental awareness Extended Shelf Life Juices Krones Packaging Returnable PET Sensitive Beverages sustainability
      Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp
      Claus C

      More article from Claus C

      Keep Reading

      Rørosmeieriet Unveils Low-Carbon White Carton for Coop’s Änglamark Milk

      ULMA Packaging Wins GOLD Award for Sustainability from BIMBO Group

      CPC Enhances Production Efficiency with Coperion’s C-BEYOND Digital Platform

      Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

      PROCESSING

      IFF Unveils Immersive Experience Hub in Singapore

      July 10, 2025

      SPX FLOW and Junlebao Partner to Launch Largest InfusionPlus UHT System in China

      July 10, 2025

      Kraft Heinz to Sell Italian Baby Food Unit to NewPrinces

      July 10, 2025

      Azelis Acquires ACEF to Strengthen Ingredient Portfolio and Market Presence in Italy

      July 9, 2025

      PACKAGING

      Rørosmeieriet Unveils Low-Carbon White Carton for Coop’s Änglamark Milk

      Norway’s organic dairy trailblazer, Rørosmeieriet, has stepped up once again as the first mover in…

      ULMA Packaging Wins GOLD Award for Sustainability from BIMBO Group

      ULMA Packaging has been honored with the GOLD Award for Sustainable Suppliers granted by BIMBO…

      CPC Enhances Production Efficiency with Coperion’s C-BEYOND Digital Platform

      To ensure maximum efficiency of both its extruders and the entire production process in the…

      © 2025 FOODINFOTECH.COM.
      • Home
      • About Us
      • Terms of Service
      • Privacy Policy
      • Contact Us

      Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.