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Eco-spirits' use industry-first 100% PCR PET content

360 Vodka paves the way for sustainable liquor packaging, with a 100% PCR PET bottle.

Pw 5764 360 Vodka

In a first for the liquor industry, McCormick Distilling Co., Weston, MO, has introduced a 100% post-consumer recycled PET container for its 360 Vodka product. Supplied by Amcor PET Packaging (www.amcor.com), the 50-mL bottle is being marketed by McCormick’s Earth Friendly Distilling Company division for the “eco-luxury” vodka. 360 Vodka was launched in 2007 and is crafted from natural ingredients using energy-saving and other environmentally friendly practices.

“This new 100-percent PCR bottle is a 100-percent fit with our entire 360 Vodka profile," says Jim Zargo, McCormick Distilling Co. president and COO.”

According to Amcor, the carbon footprint of the 100% PCR vodka bottle is 60% lower than virgin PET, which the company supplies for other McCormick brands.

As Zargo explains, the new bottle came about through McCormick’s close partnership with Amcor. “Since we have many projects in development, I visited their facility in Nicholasville [KY],” he recalls. “I saw Amcor’s one-step [bottle blowing] process and know they are doing quite a bit of 100-percent PCR work. Although we initially looked at glass bottles for our 50-milliliter size because our larger 360 Vodka containers are 85 percent-recycled glass, it was prohibitively expensive for a bottle size that typically is used for samplings and promotions.

“The idea of doing PCR for our 50-millileter size came up. Amcor said they could make it work and that they had the supply to handle our volume. So we came back and presented the idea to go with 100-percent PCR and be the first one in the market. Everybody agreed.”

PCR content proves challenging

Notes Amcor PET Packaging’s director of Sustainability, Dave Clark, the company is actively encouraging the increased use of PCR in its customers’ packaging because it is equipped to handle the manufacturing challenges. “PCR requires extra attention and expertise because it is more difficult to work with than virgin PET,” he says. “It requires special storage and special equipment for blending, and usually only certain lines are set up to do that.”

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