Sidel has introduced a groundbreaking returnable PET bottle tailored specifically for still water, presenting manufacturers with a lightweight and fully recyclable option, distinct from formats initially created for carbonated beverages.
This launch signifies a pivotal moment in returnable packaging within one of the beverage industry’s largest segments, as brands and retailers seek innovative solutions that minimize material usage, curb waste, and promote circular economy principles.
The new Returnable PET – Still Water bottle alleviates the limitations tied to carbonated beverages, empowering Sidel to refine the design solely with still water in mind. This innovation results in a bottle that is 10% lighter than the currently utilized 1-litre returnable bottles originally intended for carbonated drinks, while still maintaining the robustness necessary for up to 25 washing cycles.
Jerome Neveu, Sidel’s packaging and mold product manager, highlighted that this development is a direct reaction to increasing consumer demands for reusable options amid intensifying regulatory scrutiny throughout Europe. He emphasized that still water producers have traditionally relied on repurposed carbonated bottles, which has constrained their design innovations and lightweighting opportunities.
In contrast, this new bottle broadens the possibilities for brands. Offered in both cylindrical and unique square designs ranging from 0.5 to 2 litres, it can be customized to align with a brand’s identity while reaping the ecological advantages of a returnable system. Its textured surfaces maintain a high-quality appearance even through multiple reuse cycles, making it suitable for retail and HORECA environments where presentation is crucial.
Moreover, the bottle seamlessly integrates with current PET recycling infrastructures, facilitating bottle-to-bottle circularity once it reaches the end of its lifecycle and can be produced using Sidel’s EvoBLOW blow-moulding technology.
For still water producers, this launch is a unique blend of lightweight construction, strength, and design adaptability in a returnable PET format—an essential advancement as the industry moves swiftly towards more sustainable packaging solutions.
