AriZona Iced Tea bottle provides refreshing carbon footprint

Graham Packaging says the Slingshot bottle is 20% lighter than AriZona Iced Tea’s old bottle, and packs nearly 350 more bottles to a pallet. Mark Leiden, Graham’s vice president of global marketing and PET business manager, says, “That translates into a truckload that carries more than 7,650 additional bottles yet weighs more than a thousand pounds less. The space, weight, and fuel savings accrue both to AriZona and to the environment. The consumer also gets a lighter bottle that’s easier to handle.”

Based on the production volume estimated for the new bottle and the savings in material to make the bottle and fuel to transport it, the reduction in carbon dioxide equivalents represents a reduction of more than 3.3 million lb annually, according to Leiden.

“Our customers have made it clear that reducing the carbon footprint of their products is a real goal, not just something they give lip service to,” he said.

The Slingshot bottle for AriZona features an amber color to protect the natural antioxidant properties of the beverage and a barrier technology to prolong the fresh taste of the natural flavors without the use of preservatives.

The Slingshot technology eliminates the need for vacuum panels in the label area, which allows for a sleek cylindrical design. That makes the bottle easier to handle and label during filling and creates a package that provides a more ergonomic feel in the consumer’s hand.