Discover your next big idea at PACK EXPO Las Vegas this September
Experience a breakthrough in packaging & processing and transform your business with solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries.
REGISTER NOW & SAVE

Bru's big on blue PET

Recognizing that an established brand lives or dies partly on the strength of its packaging, marketers at Bru S.A. were downright picky about which PET resin to use when they introduced 50-cL (16.9-oz) bottles of natural sparkling mineral water last May.

Pw 15300 Bru1

By selecting Aqua PET 20837 from the European division of Voridian (Kingsport, TN), the firm’s “commitment to quality” is clearly communicated, says Pierre De Winter, supply chain director at the Lorce, Belgium, firm. “It’s a high-performance resin that enables our packaging to reflect the superior quality of the Bru-brand products.”

A variety of Bru-brand products in several PET bottle sizes are marketed by Bru S.A., and any number of resin grades are used. But for this particular bottle/product combination, key considerations had to be factored in before making a resin selection. First, the bottle is small so the low surface-to-volume ratio magnifies the potential for off-tastes due to acetaldehyde levels. Second, the embossing on the sidewalls introduces structural challenges that are best addressed by specifying a resin having sufficient toughness. And finally, the product itself, a sparkling water, requires a tougher PET resin than a noncarbonated still water. Only after all these factors were considered could a resin grade be selected.

List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO
Looking for CPG-focused digital transformation solutions? Download our editor-curated list from PACK EXPO featuring top companies offering warehouse management, ERP, digital twin, and MES software with supply chain visibility and analytics capabilities—all tailored specifically for CPG operations.
Download Now
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO
Annual Outlook Report: Workforce
Hiring remains a major challenge in packaging, with 78% struggling to fill unskilled roles and 84% lacking experienced workers. As automation grows, companies must rethink hiring and training. Download the full report for key insights.
Download Now
Annual Outlook Report: Workforce