BOTTLE MAKING 25 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 “There are some differences in the chemistry of the material but there aren’t any significant differences from virgin PET during preform manufacturing or the blowing process. Virgin PET and bioPET exhibit exactly the same behaviour during transformation from preforms to bottles,” Luca explained. Label free The Zelda bottle complies with regulations on tethered caps, which are made of PP, and it has been designed with another eco-friendly feature: it is ready for the label-free trends emerging in the marketplace. Eliminating labels means there is no need for glue, nor for separation of the label during recovery and recycling, which saves material during manufacture and removes one step completely from the recycling process. Label-free bottles are not yet authorised for use in the EU but other countries, such as South Korea, are embracing the concept. Companies including Nestle, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are reported to be developing label-free bottles; Coca-Cola has already developed a lasered labelfree Sprite bottle in the UK and Gentlebrand expects to see progress in the EU over the next four to five years. For now, UPM -supplied labels made from sustainable and renewable sources are available. Fit for the future “Zelda is currently a pilot project, which we have developed and prototyped internally,” said Luca Baldessin. “We have presented it at a number of trade shows, in order to showcase its capabilities, and to assess current and future market trends and reactions. “Looking to the future, we see the growth of ‘smart’ products, which can connect to the Internet; increased personalisation of products in terms of both content and packaging, including easy customisation of the printed information using digital and other technologies. We are also looking at more refillable opportunities in the future.” Gentlebrand says that the Zelda Water family was created with the goal of combining elegance and sustainability, offering an innovation in the mineral water industry. The fully renewable Zelda no-label bottle demonstrates a strong commitment to the environment, while maintaining a sophisticated design, the company maintains. The minimalist aesthetic and smooth curves of the bottle give it a transparent and refined appearance, staying true to the elegance of the premium Zelda Horeca version. www.gentlebrand.com
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