Apr 21 2009
There's a good way to remember the name of Graham Packaging's new sustainability leader in a 20-ounce PET stock hot-fill bottle. Just say, "Gee, it's light." Indeed, it is light-and it's called the "G-LiteTM" bottle.
Doug MacLean, CEO of TalkingRain Beverage Company in Preston, Washington, will certainly tell you about light. TalkingRain is currently switching over to the G-LiteTM bottle for the vitamin-enhanced flavored waters it produces for co-branding with one of its major customers.
MacLean said the reduction in plastic resin used in the bottle equates to a cost reduction of nearly 5 percent, what he called a "meaningful savings." Not to mention the 250 pounds less per truckload in weight savings and the fact the bottle is fully recyclable.
The customer probably won't notice any difference, MacLean said, but the switch to the new bottle is part of the commitment to sustainability that both Talking Rain and Graham Packaging are vigorously pursuing.
"We're looking at every avenue we can to cut down on the packaging we use," MacLean explained. "We have been very pleased with the fact that Graham Packaging is taking a proactive stance on reducing packaging and improving sustainability. This especially helps with customers of ours like Costco that have deep-seated environmental goals."
"We are thrilled to have Talking Rain as our partner in this technology," said Mark Leiden, vice president of global marketing and PET business manager for Graham Packaging. "They have an excellent product and a customer base that values their efforts to innovate with packaging while improving sustainability."
Up to now, plastic bottles used in hot-filling had to have a substantial amount of material in their base to stand up to the rigors of the process. Graham Packaging has spent two years coming up with a new solution. The magic, one might say, is in the technical details.
According to Phillip Sheets, senior project manager for Graham Packaging, a proprietary technique called "HOB"-which stands for Highly Oriented Base-creates increased crystallinity in the plastic at the molecular level. This, in turn, allows extreme thinning of the plastic, contributing to less weight.
Leiden expects the appeal of the new bottle to be strong-a reduced carbon footprint because it uses less material, less energy to make, and less energy to transport-and said it will be rolled out to other customers in various sizes and shapes over the next several months.
"Given the current economy, consumers and retailers alike are demanding better products with better value," Leiden added. "TalkingRain has found a way to do that by pioneering with G-LiteTM."