PETpla.net Insider 01+02 / 2012

BOTTLING / FILLING 26 PET planet insider Vol. 13 No. 01+02/12 www.petpla.net Debut for lightweight PET bottle A lidl less weight* *based on an article by Heinrich Deyerl, Krones AG 26.8g, that’s what it weighs: the very latest 1.5l PET container for CSDs. designed by Krones for Mitteldeutsche Erfrischungsgetränke (MEG), a subsidiary of the Schwarz Group, Germany, which also owns the retailing chains of Lidl and Kaufland. Following successful testing, the new bottle can now be found in all of Lidl’s branches nationwide. It has saved a substantial amount of weight compared to the previous design, in conjunction with signifi- cantly improved grip stability. Lidl is today among the Top 5 of Germany’s food and beverage retailers, and in addition is one of the largest retailing companies in Europe. With more than 3,000 branches throughout Germany, Lidl is aiming to optimise the energy- efficiency of its facilities, and to streamline its internal operations. 100% less energy for heating, 30% fewer CO 2 emissions, and 10% less electricity consumed in comparison to a conventional food and bever- age company. The supply of mer- chandise to the branches nation- wide is organised through various central warehouses in Germany. Saving energy – reducing weight Back in 2002, Lidl had already begun to put in place a series of meas- ures for saving energy in its central warehousing operations. To ensure that the food arrives reliably every day fresh and in top quality for the custom- ers, plus of course the consumer dura- bles also on sale, Lidl likewise priori- tises efficient logistics. Another major focus is the use of eco-friendly bever- age packaging. Under the motto of “Do your own recycling”, early in 2011 Lidl launched a publicity campaign for full-coverage material recycling, more energy-efficiency and reduced packaging weights. The PET bottles for the firm’s own Freeway and Saskia brands are currently made more than 40% from recycled PET material. For this purpose, only the deposit bottles returned in Lidl’s own branches are recovered in a closed-cycle process. The MEG is currently increasing the proportion of recyclate from 40 to 50%. Krones has proved it possible to reduce the weight of the Freeway and Saskia PET bottles by almost 30% over the last few years, while still retaining and even improving their functionality and handling quali- ties. In conjunction with the propor- tion of recyclate involved, today only 42% of the fresh raw material quan- tity (38g) required three years ago for producing a bottle is needed, and in the future this figure will be a mere 35%. This amounts to just 13.3g for a 1.5l bottle. Compared to the situation three years ago, only 42% of fresh raw material quantities are required today for pro- ducing a PET bottle for Lidl, and in the future it will be a mere 35%. Light weighting SPECIAL