Vilsa-Brunnen replaces shrink wrap with adhesive dots
Vilsa-Brunnen is the first German beverage manufacturer to eliminate shrink wrap on all its single-use bottles, replacing it with adhesive dots. With the introduction of the “VILSA NIX-PACK”, the company aims to redefine the classic six-pack [“NIX” meaning “nothing” in German, highlighting the absence of shrink wrap].
Instead of being held together by plastic wrap, the bottles in a six-pack are now bonded with small, highly adhesive dots. The traditional plastic carrying handle has also been replaced with a recyclable cardboard grip. According to Vilsa, the combination of adhesive dots and a cardboard carrier makes the VILSA NIX-PACK the most sustainable packaging solution for its rPET single-use bottles. All Vilsa single-use bottles are made from recycled PET.
Reducing the carbon footprint of Vilsa’s single-use range
By introducing this new packaging, Vilsa significantly reduces its plastic consumption, saving approximately 2,000 km/a of shrink wrap—equivalent to a total plastic reduction of 50 t/a.
Henning Rodekohr, Managing Partner of Vilsa-Brunnen Otto Rodekohr GmbH, stated that the company continuously invests in new machinery and technologies to provide customers with the most sustainable packaging solutions. He emphasised that the new packaging significantly improves the carbon footprint of Vilsa’s single-use range, aligning with the company’s guiding principle, #ProtectingTomorrowToday. According to Rodekohr, the switch from shrink wrap results in a 40–70% reduction in CO₂ emissions, depending on bottle size, with the 1l NIX-PACK alone cutting emissions by 62.5%.
Cardboard carrier and adhesive dots
The newly certified cardboard carrier is designed to be sturdy enough for safely transporting a 1.5l six-pack. It is 100% recyclable and claimed to offer both convenience and durability against everyday conditions such as heat, cold, and humidity. Instructions for use are printed directly on the cardboard handle, which is gripped from the top with the entire hand. After use, the carrier can be disposed of in the paper recycling bin.
The adhesive dots holding the bottles together are resistant to environmental influences and do not need to be removed before returning the bottles for recycling. According to the company, the adhesive dots have no impact on the recycling process.