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Brasil
PackTrends
2020
191
sustainability & ethics
mL KS Ultra bottle, which uses 25% less glass in its
manufacturing and maintains the original format of the
traditional contour bottle, icon of the brand around the
world (COCA-COLA GUARARAPES, s.d.; ABIR, 2011).
Generally, the innovation strategy of glass industries
has been aligned to the sustainability trends, aiming at the
reduction on the raw material, energy and CO
2
emissions
reduction, along with the increase in the percentage of
use of recycled glass. As a result of this commitment,
the company Owens - Illinois had the lightweight line of
glass containers for wine
Lean + Green
, produced through
technology Narrow Neck Press and Blow, manufacturing
process by pressing and blowing of the bottle, which
ensures greater uniformity of the glass thickness and
reduce the weight of the order of 16 % to 27 % compared
to current packaging, with the same appearance and
quality guaranteed (FIGURE 7.15) Besides the reduction
of carbon emissions associated with the production
process of glass packaging, manufacturing packaging
lighter still favors the reduction of carbon emissions
associated with the transport and distribution of finished
product (INNOVATIONS..., 2010; O-I, s.d.).
FIGURE 7.15
Use of the Narrow Neck Press
and Blow technology for light-
weight glass packaging
Source: Press release
On the scale of priorities for solid waste
management, the minimization of waste generated by
optimizing and reducing packaging systems should
be encouraged in the first place. Reuse is the second
priority, followed by recycling, in third place.
The use of returnable packages has been adopted
in some regions. One of the main beer producers,
SABMiller, uses returnable and reusable glass bottles.
The Bavaria Group, a SABMiller’s branch in Colombia,
launched the
“Super Returnables” campaign with the
slogan “The Power to Defend Your Pocket, Increase
Sales and Protect the Planet”, in order to encourage
consumers to return the bottles after consuming and,
therefore, reduce the packaging residues. Another
SABMiller Group’s brewery sells 52% of their products in
returnable barrels and glass bottles. Study of Life Cycle
Assessment showed that the returnable glass bottle
swing-top, with 450 mL, had a better environmental
performance compared to the other evaluated packages,
considering the production and distribution conditions
in which the study was performed (INNOVATIONS...,
2010; SABMILLER, 2012; SABMILLR, 2009). It is
known, however, that there is not a general superiority
that can be attributed to the returnable packages in
relation to the non-returnable. It is known, however, that
there is no general superiority that can be attributed to
returnable packaging than non returnable. The average
distribution distance of beverages greatly affects the
environmental performance of those bottles.
Overall, however, the reusable or returnable
packaging have not yet been characterized as a current
trend, although there are some niches, such as the
natural foods and beverages, in some countries, where
it has become common for consumers to bring their
7.4 MATERIALS REUSE & RECYCLING