CAPS & CLOSURES 21 PETplanet Insider Vol. 23 No. 01+02/22 www.petpla.net Schmidt: Safe Venting keeps pressure build-up inside the bottle below a safe 2 bar through a venting feature in the closure’s sealing area. By managing the pressure it protects the consumer from the so-called ‘missiling effect’ – a familiar hazard with certain beverages that have a tendency to ferment. When juices or dairy products in bottles with conventional non-venting sealed closures are opened and then re-closed, internal pressure can build up to 5 bar. The next time a bottle with this level of internal pressure is opened the closure can ‘missile off’ loudly and potentially cause injury to the consumer. At the same time, the beverage can foam out uncontrollably. Our venting technology eliminates this issue while still providing a secure seal. We’re currently supplying the Bericap 3438 to a number of juice customers in Europe – the internationally known brand ‘innocent drinks’, for example. We are proud to be part of their journey towards realising a CO2-neutral, all-electric factory in the Port of Rotterdam. PETplanet: Speaking of sustainability: You received the Packaging Europe Sustainability Award in 2020 for another innovation. What was it about? Schmidt: With our award-winning BericapValve we have succeeded in avoiding the conventional material of silicone and designed a valve made from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). So the closure is 100% silicone-free, which is an enormous advantage for recycling because it prevents the contamination of the recycling stream with silicone. Our valve closure has a top recyclability rating and is certified according to leading institute standards, such as bifa Umweltinstitut and Fraunhofer. PETplanet: In other words: this small yet decisive change of using a different material has enabled you to eliminate a weak spot with a huge negative impact on the whole cycle – the contamination of the valuable PET material with silicone. Schmidt: Exactly. The BericapValve is made of TPE, which can be recycled in the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) recycling stream without contaminating it, yet still has the same properties as conventional valves. PETplanet: Is this valve only available for special closures? Schmidt: No, it fits a wide range of flip-top closures for all common neck finishes and can be used for sweet, sour and fat-containing products, as well as for sport drinks and still water. With such a variety of applications, the valve is a sustainable alternative to the conventional silicone valves that are currently in widespread use for spreadables. It also optimises the customer products’ dispensing performance. PETplanet: Where else is consumer convenience important? Schmidt: In our experience optimum dosing and dispensing is extremely important for edible oil, soy sauce and vinegar, especially because they are used for different applications in the kitchen. We’ve closed a gap in the market by developing two dispensing systems for these products: the 2 Flow and the X Flow. PETplanet: What’s the difference between these two systems? Schmidt: The 2 Flow has a tear-out membrane that creates two pouring holes, a small hole on one side for low-flow applications such as dressing a salad with vinegar or oil and a large hole for high-flow applications such as pouring oil into a frying pan. Deflectors inside the closure improve flow performance for significantly enhanced consumer convenience. The X Flow has an even more impressive dispensing concept. The consumer still has a choice of two different flows, but the flows also remain constant irrespective of the bottle angle. Even when the bottle is turned upside down the flow rate remains constant. PETplanet: Could you also manufacture these closures more sustainably? Schmidt: Absolutely. The most effective initiative to improve sustainability is definitely the reduction of the plastic material necessary to produce the container and closure. We’re demonstrating this with our closure range for the PET 26/21 neck finish that can be used for edible oil, soy sauce and vinegar, as well as still water. It is turning out to have particularly promising characteristics in terms of lightweight design and material reduction. As long as we are able to reduce material by design without compromising functionality or product integrity, we can increase the sustainability of these solutions. PETplanet: Other than sustainability and customer convenience, what trends will be important in 2022? Schmidt: Closure customisation and flexible individualisation are still important in the food and beverage segment as well as in many other industrial sectors. That’s why we offer our customers a digital printing service to maximise their design flexibility. It allows them to create a unique-looking, recognisable product, on the one hand, and to protect the product against copying and counterfeiting, on the other. PETplanet: Thanks very much for the interview, Thomas. www.bericap.com
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