Colgate-Palmolive's move into polypropylene for its Festa das Flores product represents a departure from its previous polyethylene terephthalate/high-density polyethylene resin strategy. "When packaging professionals think of polypropylene, we think of one thing--injection molding [of closures]," says Sal Del'Re, manager of surface care packaging. "In general, consumer products companies do not consider polypropylene a strategic material for plastic bottle molding." Del'Re notes the one exception is the syrup industry, which relies on PP for its hot-fill capability. Other hot-fill products, such as ketchups, sauces and certain beverages, also have used the resin, often in multi-layer barrier constructions. But apart from these examples, the bulk of PP used in packaging is for closures (see chart). CP's previous focus has been to concentrate on the use of HDPE and PET. Del'Re cites Fresh Start Laundry Detergent, Murphy's Oil Soap and Ajax Dishwashing Liquid as examples of the old strategy. Once, all were PP; they've all since been converted into either HDPE or PET. "The requirement of clarity together with a handle has opened the door for developing a clarified polypropylene bottle," says Del'Re. With the expertise CP is developing in producing low-cost, lightweight, clear-handled containers using PP, the company now considers clarified PP a third blow-molding resin choice. c
