PETpla.net Insider 07+08 / 2015

MATERIAL / RECYCLING 20 PET planet insider Vol. 16 No. 07+08/15 www.petpla.net Transparent container moulded of 100% PCR PET About Method Founded in 2000, Method is the pioneer of premium planet-friendly and design-driven home, fabric and personal care products. Formulated with natu- rally derived, biodegradable ingredients, Method cleaners put the hurt on dirt without doing harm to people, creatures or the planet. Today, Method can be found in more than 40,000 retail locations throughout North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Major national retailers include Target, Lowe’s Home Improvement Centers and Kroger. On August 1, 2013, Method reincorporated as a public benefit corporation, codifying that its corporate governance meets the highest standard of social and environmental ethics. Method is a privately held company, headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA. Method Products, renowned for eco-friendly household, fabric and personal care products, has expanded its liquid laundry offering, introducing its new 4x Concentrated Deter- gent product in a 1,5kg polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle containing 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) PET resin from Amcor Rigid Plastics. The sleek, transparent custom container, which is said to be deliver strong shelf appeal, is the industry’s first liquid laundry bottle made of 100% PCR PET. Well-known for its brightly coloured hand wash and all-purpose cleaning formulations showcased in clear PET bottles, Method has broken new ground in the liquid laundry detergent aisle, according to Joe Hunter, Director of packaging for Method. “This new PET offering in the liquid laundry segment resonates with the rest of our brand portfolio in hand wash and all-purpose cleaners,” said Hunter. “This is an important achievement in a market that has previously been predominately limited to opaque high-density polyeth- ylene (HDPE) containers.” The new 4x concentrated liquid detergent complements Method’s exist- ing portfolio of 8x concentrate liquid detergent which is packaged in 0,3-, 0,6-, and 0,8kg HDPE containers. Up until now, PET has struggled to enter the liquid laundry detergent market due to compatibility and colour stabil- ity issues. Amcor provided product compatibility testing with Method’s liquid formula product to ensure package sta- bility on the store shelf. Amcor did initial testing on preforms, and further stability testing revealed no issues, according to Matt Lewis, Senior Development Engi- neer for Amcor Rigid Plastics. “Through our strong partnership with Method we have developed a long line of unique PET packages,” said Lewis. “We were able to again push the envelope and deliver an important advancement in bottle design, this time for the liquid laundry detergent market.” Amcor’s design engineering team worked closely with Method’s indus- trial design team to create a bottle with Method’s unique look which could be mental platform, to gain major sustain- ability benefits. “Among our primary business priorities is reducing the environmental impact of all our prod- ucts,” explained Hunter. Analysis using Amcor’s ASSETTM life cycle assess- ment tool showed that by using 100% PCR resin, the package’s life cycle energy consumption is reduced by 78% and its carbon footprint is lowered by 35% versus a virgin PET alternative. Amcor claims to be a leader in advancing the use of PCR in a range of PET and HDPE packaging. The company incorporates varying percent- ages of PCR for other customers and is developing and securing reliable sources of the highest quality PCR plastics. www.methodhome.com www.amcor.com stretch blow moulded without a handle. The mould design created challenges due to the cross corner parting line split and functional ergonomic hand grips moulded on the back side of the bottle. This was overcome by a variable radius parting line that allowed the part to release from the blow mould with no plastic entrapment. The neck design also presented challenges due to the two-piece poly- propylene (PP) pour spout and cup closure. The pour spout required orien- tation to the front of the bottle and once in that location could not be rotated by the removal of the pour cup. This was complicated because the PP closure was designed for an HDPE bottle. The lug design on the neck went through a series of design trials to find the best option. In addition, a small adjust- ment was made to the bottle’s shoul- der height to accommodate the filling process. The 1,5kg container with 100% PCR PET enabled Method, which was founded in 2000 on a strong environ-