Australian PET packaging growing in demand in U.S.
An Australian packaging company, Amcor, has been expanding its U.S. profile through the marketing of a new U.S. niche for PET bottles.
Amcor Rigid Plastics, a subsidiary of Amcor, has seen a growth in demand by U.S. airlines for wine bottles made from light, recyclable PET (also known as polyethylene terephthalate), rather than glass.
Amcor coats the PET bottles with Plasmax Silicon Oxide (SiOx), which protects contents from oxidization, making it a suitable material to contain wine.
Bronco Wine Company, the fourth-largest winery in the US and customer of Amcor Rigid Plastics, recently converted its 187ml bottles from glass to PET. According to Amcor, Bronco’s retail and airline sales have risen through the switch to PET.
According to Amcor, its PET bottles also have acquired a growing market share of bottles used at outdoor events, and the PET bottle is being marketed as lighter than glass and ‘environmentally friendly.’
PET usage growing elsewhere
H. J. Heinz, also in the U.S., recently announced the formation of a new working group aimed at supporting the development and use of 100% PET materials in many products. Other members of the working group include Coca-Cola, Ford Motor, Nike and Proctor & Gamble.