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P&G pushes the limits of two-stage ISBM

P&G teams up with an innovative resin supplier and a specialist in high-performance packaging to commercialize a PP preform for stretch blow molding.

Pw 3293 Tide Stain Release Bi Opp Bottle3

“Our two years of research and development—which combined design innovation, new high-performance PP resins, and excellent ISBM expertise—have culminated in the development of a new benchmark in household product packaging,” says Patrick Etesse, research fellow at P&G’s Global Packaging & Device Development R&D group in Brussels. The judges in the 2010 Ameristar Packaging Competition, sponsored by the Institute of Packaging Professionals, were impressed with this breakthrough, as well. They named it an Ameristar winner in the Household Category.

The 500-mL, 1-L, and 2-L bottles were produced using a new PP resin from LyondellBasell called Stretchene. “Stretchene resins provide an outstanding cost/performance balance, and they are an excellent alternative to more traditional materials such as PET and HDPE for ISBM applications,” says Etesse.

Also playing a key role in the R&D behind this breakthrough was the European subsidiary of Plastic Technologies Inc., a specialist in high-performance packaging for the food and beverage, household product, and health care industries. Alpla contributed significantly, as well, by executing the injection molding and stretch blow molding expertise without which the innovative bottle could not have been produced.

Why PP?
“We wanted to drive ISBM with resins other than PET,” says Etesse. “PET is a wonderful material, but with some product categories it is not compatible. Products containing bleach, like this Stain Release product, are a good example. Stress crack resistance of PET is not the best if a product contains bleach or a high concentration of detergent. Some other household products contain hydrogen peroxide, and that’s problematic with PET, too, because the gas barrier of PET is too good. Hydrogen peroxide releases oxygen, which, in the case of PET would cause internal pressure to build to the point where the container would be deformed and unsightly on the shelf. PP, on the other hand, has passive venting properties because it’s 30 times more permeable to gas than PET.”

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