The change yields substantial weight and convenience advantages. Based in La Courneuve, France, Pampryl is a member of the Pernod-Ricard Group. It extrusion blow-molds and fills the nonreturnable bottles on-site, according to the French Technology Press Office (Chicago, IL). It uses BP Chemicals' (Cleveland, OH) Barex® resin, a rubber-modified copolymer of acrylonitrile and methylacrylate that's more commonly used for chemical-containing products (see page 28). Pampryl invested five years of research to develop a bottle that could keep orange juice and other fruit juices as fresh as glass. Polyethylene terephthalate and polyvinyl chloride, says FTPO, "do not keep fruit juice in optimum condition, as they are oxygen-permeable and thus deteriorate the product's organoleptic profile." The Barex resin offers the necessary oxygen barrier to keep the 12-month shelf life. And like glass, the transparent plastic bottle lets consumers see the juice inside. Specific material cost comparisons were not available from Pampryl at press time, but presumably the specialty resin comes with an upcharge compared to glass. FTPO says it's justified by the bottle's added consumer convenience. At 40 g, it's much lighter than the previous 450-g glass version. The lighter weight and nonbreakable material make handling easier and add safety, providing particular appeal to children. One further note: Pampryl says the use of the resin for a juice-containing bottle meets regulatory guidelines in France. The company adds that the plant that molds and fills the bottles is ISO 9000-certified. For more details, contact FTPO at 312/222-1235.
