Packaging
The main purpose of soft drinks packaging is to protect the
product, maintain the convenience of use for the consumer and to
reduce waste. All soft drinks packaging can be recycled
and/or re-used to make other useful products. For example:
- aluminium cans are recycled and used with raw material to
produce new batches of cans;
- plastic bottles can be used to make fleece textile products,
fibre filling and street furniture;
- glass bottles can be reused or recycled to use in the
production of new glass; and
- paper and board is recycled to produce tissue, paper bags, chip
board, briefcases and office furniture.
The reduction of packaging waste has always been a primary
concern of the soft drinks industry. Therefore, the industry has
consistently been at the forefront of packaging innovations and is
constantly looking at ways to reduce the amount of raw materials
used in various types of packaging.
Types of packaging
The main forms of packaging used by the soft drinks industry
are:
- glass bottles
- plastic including PET (Polyethylene
terephthalate), PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), HDPE (High density
polyethylene), cups (made from polystyrene and polyethylene),
pouches (low density polyethylene)
- cans including aluminium and
steel
- paper such as cartons
When manufacturers are considering packaging for a soft drink
they need to consider the functions of packaging to ensure that the
products reach the consumer in the best possible condition. The
functions of packaging are to contain, protect, identify and sell
the product while keeping in mind the impact upon the environment
and the costs involved. Certain packaging is more suitable for
certain types of product than others when you consider the above
criteria.
A summary of the various attributes and disadvantages of the
main forms of packaging when looking at their functions can be
found here.