Converting equipment

Coke tests PET/PEN bottle down under

Coca-Cola South Pacific Pty. Ltd. of Sydney, Australia-an operating unit of Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co.-is now testing a 350-mL (11.83 oz) plastic bottle made of a polyethylene terephthalate/polyethylene naphthalate (PET/PEN) blend.

June 30, 1997

Recycling: Page 414

Labels

Shaking things up at Snapple

"A package that meets the targeted consumer's needs" is how Snapple marketing manager Sylvia Oriatti describes the new Snapple Squeeze line of juice drinks in 20-oz bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate.

June 30, 1997

Home

Supplier news: International agreements

Reko B.V. (Geleen, The Netherlands) purchased an MSS VYDAR(TM) automated PVC flake removal system for installation in its PET recycling facility in Geleen, from MSS Intl., Inc.

May 31, 1997

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Packaging foam

In response to recently established federal restrictions on the flammable content of foams, Sentinel Products (Hyannis, MA) has developed GH(TM)NE PE foam.

May 31, 1997

Flexibles

NPE 1997 delivers a 'world of plastics'

Billed as the world's largest plastics exposition this year, NPE 1997 expects more than 1귔 exhibitors and 75ꯠ visitors at Chicago's McCormick Place between June 16 and 20. A technology-oriented conference program focusing on plastics trends will feature at least 100 industry experts.

May 31, 1997

Sustainability

Headache disposal, too

When environmental legislation began to affect customers, Wacker Silicones switched to a durable industrial bulk container that eliminates customer hassles.

May 31, 1997

Conveying & accumulation

Bottling water for millions

Tak Fat now supplies pure bottled drinking water to eight million consumers in China's Guangzhou area. The next target is the total Guangdong province of 69 million, and then on to the rest of the country. Integrated 5-gal line delivers 400 bph.

May 31, 1997

Coding, Printing & Labeling

California bill defeated

An attempt by California Assembly- woman Debra Brown to revise the state's existing environmental labeling law was defeated. The law, which concurs with the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines on the use of environmental marketing claims, failed in committee on a 10-8 vote with three abstentions.

May 31, 1997

Home

New European marks?

The European Commission has proposed new legislation that would introduce two new voluntary symbols for packages that can be reused or recycled. If a packager chooses to use the symbols, then no other symbols may be used for the same purpose.

May 31, 1997

Recycling

Can lines to dwindle; can recycling rates up

The number of can lines producing two-piece drawn-and-ironed aluminum cans for beer and beverages in the U.S. will drop 15%, from 178 to 151, between 1996 and 2001.

May 31, 1997

Sustainable Packaging

COPE takes environmental pulse

In one of its final tasks before disbanding at the end of 1996, the Council on Packaging in the Environment (COPE) released a Retrospective entitled "Taking the Environmental Pulse of the Consumer: A 4-Year Look." The COPE-funded study, conducted by the Environmental Research Associates (ERA), surveyed consumer opinions between 1993 and '96.

May 31, 1997

Protective/transport packaging

PEN polymers lure beverage marketers

Superior thermal properties, chemical resistance, and high barrier to oxygen transmission have made PEN and other naphthalate-based materials irresistable for a hot-filled isotonic drink and for citrus juices.

May 31, 1997

Sustainability

Plastics' broken loop

Recycled-content legislation has receded, environmentalists have been quiet and virgin PET is plentiful and cheap. Packagers are divided on whether to continue their commitments to use post-consumer resin in the U.S. market.

May 31, 1997