Complex PET bottle adopted as Japanese rice wine container
A Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP)-developed complex PET plastic bottle based on functional film that is claimed to boast superior light blocking and gas barrier properties, has been adopted for use in the Japanese rice wine Awanama, promoted by the High Pressure Sterilized Draft Sake Consortium.
The consortium, which is represented by Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, is engaged in the development of a high pressure sterilisation process performed following the injection of the rice wine into the bottle, and in this latest development the flexibility and elasticity of the DNP developed bottle were valued by the consortium leading to its adoption.
Based on The Council for PET Bottle Recycling Guidelines, in the Japanese domestic market, colouring the bottle is not recognised, and as a result it has been extremely difficult to use plastic bottles with beverages, such as alcohol, which require light blocking properties in order to prevent a deterioration in the contents.
In rising to this challenge, DNP has developed a complex bottle, whereby a transparent plastic bottle is moulded in an integral fashion*1 with a coloured film comprising functions such as light blocking properties that envelops the entire bottle. The newly developed product not only includes light blocking and oxygen barrier properties, but allows for expanded design possibilities, such as printing on the surface of the bottle. As the coloured film can be separated from the bottle for disposal purposes, the remaining transparent plastic bottle complies with domestic recycling guidelines. The consortium has subsequently decided to adopt the complex bottle as the container for Awanama, a draft sake.
Using high pressure technology, the project has developed a technology to facilitate the shipping of draft sake at normal temperatures, without the need for heat treatment. The project aims to develop new demand for Japanese sake, and expand exports.
A high pressure sterilisation process is employed during the manufacturing process, making it necessary to use a container with both flexibility and elasticity.
The design for the Awanama bottle was created by Frame Inc., headquartered in Niigata City.
