Sidel’s international centre of excellence for pet packaging development and blowing solutions in octeville, france, recently made an important contribution to sustainability through an innovative res
14 October 2015
14/10/2015
Sidel consulted with its PET packaging expertise in theBioHub® programme as the selected representative for thebeverage industry.
This open innovation programme has enabled thedevelopment and production of new chemicals using renewableagriculture materials, such as cereals which are a sustainablesubstitute for well-known fossil-based chemicals. The newbio-based forms of polyester have many possible end-userapplications, including packaging in which Sidel was recognised forits PET packaging competence. The programme was undertaken byinternational French biorefining group, Roquette, a global leaderin the processing of plant-based raw materials, and subsidised byBPI France, the French agency for industrial innovation.
Luc Desoutter, Sidel's Special Project Director, comments:"Sidel has a longstanding relationship with Roquette and Sidel'sR&D Packaging experts in Octeville in particular contributedwith important and innovative PET packaging expertise in this breakthroughproject. I am convinced that the innovative materialsresulting from the project will soon be adding value to the alreadysubstantial benefits that PET offers as a liquid packagingsolution, in terms of both performance and sustainability. Satisfying market needs and providing an alternative to establishedraw materials, they will be of great interest and benefit to thebeverage packaging industry and many others."
PET packaging expertise at Octeville France provesuseful
Sidel was one of several, select private sector and publicpartners in the BioHub programme, which was originally launched in2006. The Sidel expertise at Octeville brought the company'smany years' experience in the field of beverage and liquid foodpackaging - and in the industrial production of PET packaging - tothe project. The company's solid technological expertise incomplete linesolutions that starts with the blow moulding process inbottling of beverages, oils and other liquids was particularlyuseful to the project, as was its viewpoint as an end user of thepotential new bio-based performance plastics within the beverageindustry.
Vincent Le Guen, Sidel's Vice President forPackaging, says: "Our understanding of bio-based polymers throughour participation in this open innovation programme brings greatvalue to Sidel's PET packaging expertise in Octeville. It enablesus to continue to stay at the forefront of the liquid packagingindustry and to be ready to meet the future needs of beverageproducers. The close relationships we have with our partnersthroughout the PET value chain, and also across other industries,is really valuable to Sidel. This helps ensure we stay incontact with the latest industry developments and continue toimprove our packaging solutions for beverage producers."
Many beverages, food items and other consumer products arecurrently marketed and packaged in bottles or containers made fromPET, the most common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyesterfamily. It makes the ideal beverage packaging materialbecause it is safe, strong, transparent, light and versatile. Customers appreciate it for its safety compared to traditionalmaterials. It is resealable, shatter-resistant and,importantly, can be recycled again and again.
The successful completion of the BioHub Project - and Sidel'sintegral role within it - can lead to the production of newbio-based forms of polyester demonstrating excellent transparencyand UV resistance and a good resistance to high temperatures. Leading names within the beverage industry, such as Coca-Cola,PepsiCo, Danone and Nestlé, are looking into the possibility ofbottles made from fully renewable resources and are said to bealready assessing the most promising options to incorporate thesenext-generation materials into their production lines. For example,Coca-Cola recently unveiled PlantBottle™, a PET bottle based onplant materials.
For more information about the benefits of PET packaging, click here.
Download high quality pictures
In this short and insightful video, Sustainable Designer -Niels Peter Flint - talks to us about the wonders of PET, from adesign perspective as well as in everyday living. We live it. Wewear it. And, most of all, we drink out of it. Let's discover thebenefits of today and the opportunities for tomorrow.
