Caps and closures have long been vital in protecting food and drink products and allowing easy dispensing. However, they are now gaining fresh attention for their sustainability.
From bottles to jars, to cartons, pouches, pots, and more, caps and closures are key in protecting food and drink products, maintaining their quality and freshness, and facilitating easy product dispensing. Now, their role in enhancing packaging sustainability and reducing waste is becoming increasingly important too, as customers become more eco-conscious and demand grows for the use of more environmentally friendly materials in the sector.
Sustainable Caps and Closures
There are myriad different types of caps and closures, each with their own unique features and benefits, making them suitable for different products. The most common types include continuous thread closures, lug caps, drone caps, dome caps, phenolic polycone caps, ribbed closures and smooth closures.
Especially in the beverage industry, caps and closures, which provide easy-to-use packaging solutions, are in demand and enhanced plastic closures from many top beverage companies are influencing the market. According to London-based Future Market Insights (FMI), as of 2022, the global plastic caps and closures market stands at $44 billion, expecting to reach $61 billion or more by the end of 2029. As plastic caps and closures turn out to be more user-friendly, the purpose of secure sealing and improved safety is essential, while the future demand and market growth for plastic caps and closures that are highly recyclable is promising.
Tethered Closures
Tethered closures, caps which remain firmly attached to the bottle after opening and during the product’s service life or life cycle, are also in widespread demand for production across the beverage markets around the world. Tobias Naumann, product manager of Husky Technologies, states: “Some of the business benefits of switching to tethered closures for beverages is that there is a certain value…beyond just being compliant with certain laws, and that is the message ‘to improve the sustainability of your brand’.”
Sustainable Innovation
United Caps, an international manufacturer of caps and closures, said in March 2023 that it is launching a unique, highly effective and sustainable tethered closure for carton packaging which is a closure (patents pending) that will include an innovative tamper-evident (TE) band that keeps all parts intact for easier recycling. It features a strong hinge and non-detachable TE band for the ultimate in sustainable recyclability. “We are pleased to be bringing to market one of the first tethered closures for carton packaging,” said CEO Benoit Henckes. “In addition to its ability to keep all parts intact for recycling, its super-strong hinge ensures the box-fresh experience consumers are looking for. It not only enhances the user experience but also helps to protect the environment.” A stand-out feature of the new tethered closure is the audible click during opening and closing; a reassuring sound that allows a consumer to know their cap or closure is in position – and that when opened, the closure is in the optimal position for use and for the perfect pour.
Sustainability Trends
A report from industry consultants, AMI Consulting, published June 2019, contextualises industry challenges and quantifies the impact of regulations – sustainability is now the key driver in the European plastic caps and closures market, with development initiatives so far being supported by sustainability. From 1 July 2024, for example, plastic beverage bottles up to 3 litres will be required by EU Law to have closures remain attached throughout the life of the single use container. Some companies are already adapting to this, such as the Coca-Cola Company’s use of tethered closures in their European markets of Germany and Spain.
Conclusion
Overall, many companies are now becoming increasingly committed to minimising the potential environmental and health impacts of, as well as providing excellent, caps or closures. Considerations range from using renewable energy to focusing on local sourcing and greener materials.
Sustainable Caps and Closures
- Blue Ocean Closures: cellulose-based screw caps which use water-resistant paper fibre and are said to be durable and recyclable in existing paper streams, and totally biodegradable in both soil and the ocean within weeks.
- United Caps: unique, highly effective and sustainable tethered closure for carton packaging which includes an innovative tamper-evident (TE) band that keeps all parts intact for easier recycling.
- Coca-Cola Company: use of tethered closures in their European markets of Germany and Spain.
