PETpla.net Insider 01+02 / 2010

6 PET planet insider Vol. 11 No. 01+02/10 www.petpla.net PET news Coca-Cola Brazil PET Optimisation Brazil is one of the biggest markets for Coca-Cola and non-returnable PET is the most important package, by sales volume. An optimisation plan, implemented in 2008 in Brazil, is being rolled out in neighbouring countries, particularly Bra- zil’s Mercosur free trade area neighbour countries of Argen- tina, Paraguay and Uruguay. The project is led by Coca-Cola Brazil packaging team as part of a supply chain efficiency program. The strategy is based on standard preform fami- lies, which were developed in collaboration with Husky and preform suppliers Amcor, Alpla, Cristalpet and Engepack. A platform of seven moulds now delivers 34 different preforms for a wide range of applications, from Contour 250ml up to 3l, for both still and carbonated beverages. All the preform bottle applications feature high stretch ratios, which enable light- weighting without compromising CO 2 retention and shelf life. The Contour 600ml bottle, for example, has been reduced from 28 to 20.6 , while still achieving approval under Coca- Cola’s standard quality process. Blow moulding capability has been modified in order to guarantee optimised wall thick- ness distribution and high PET crystallisation index. Imple- mentation of the comprehensive optimisation programme is now being accelerated. The objective is to achieve light- weight options for all bottle families; 90% conversion to PC 1881 short height by December 2010; accelerated approval process through standardisation; cost reduction through supply chain and preform conversion efficiency; and reduc- tion in environmental impact. Standardisation on just seven moulds will enable preform suppliers to invest in new genera- tion high cavitation injection moulding machines. Asia helps bottled water ride global economic storm The Global Bottled Water Report from beverage indus- try intelligence specialists Canadean Ltd suggests that final year figures for 2009 may see expansion in the worldwide market for bottled water increase of just around 2%. North America (18% of the global market) fell from double-digit growth in 2007 to decline in 2008. Western Europe (nearly 30% of global) is also expected to show a decline in final figures for 2009, led by a slump in on- premise sales in Spain and broader downturns in France. Canadean’s Quarterly Beverage Tracker indicates that bottled water sales in China jumped by 18% in Q3 2009. Opportunities for expansion remain in Asia, where econo- mies have continued to grow and per capita consumption is 40% of global average. The water market is expected to see growth rate of 5% after 2009, compared with 7% seen in 2007 and 9.5% in 2006. It anticipates every region in the world to be registering water growth in 2010. Simei-Enovitis holds up well despite recession With 51,545 qualified visitors to Simei (International Oenological and Bottling Equipment Exhibition) and Enovitis (International Vine and Olive Growing Technics Exhibition), held in Milan from November 24-29, 2009, the event compared well with the 2007 edition. Enovitis actually saw an increase in total visitor numbers. The number of foreign visitors was also stable, with the total of foreign delegations up 80%. This increase reflected inten- sive promotion activities carried out by the exhibitions’ organization secretariat in co-operation with ICE (Italian Trade Commission) and Promos (special Agency of the Milan Chamber of Commerce for international activities). Delegations came from a number of central and eastern European countries; from Russia and Kazakhstan; and from South Africa, the Americas, SE Asia, and the Middle East. Journalist representation, Italian and international, was up 50%. Sidel joins Napcor Sidel has joined Napcor (National Association for PET Container Resources), which is the trade association of the PET plastic industry in the United States and Canada. Its membership includes about 50 companies involved in dif- ferent stages of the PET container life cycle, from preform manufacturers to packaging equipment makers, food and beverage companies and recycling operators. Among the issues that Napcor has been promoting for over 20 years are the use and recycling of PET packaging and communication of the attributes of PET as an environ- mentally sustainable material. Sidel says that Napcor mem- bership will help the Group enhance its dialogue with other companies. “Sidel is committed to sustainability innova- tion and to making PET recycling easier, through both the design of its equipment and the design of packages,” said Luc Desoutter, Sustainability Manager for Sidel.