Berry Global teams up with Abel & Cole to introduce refillable milk bottles

UK – Sustainable packaging company Berry Global has partnered with Abel & Cole to launch refillable bottles for its Club Zero Refillable Milk delivery service.

Made from recyclable polypropylene (PP), these bottles can be reused up to 16 times before recycling.

As revealed by Abel & Cole’s research, the new bottles are designed to be lighter than glass and help lower transport and greenhouse gas emissions. Using the Club Zero bottles just four times halves the carbon footprint compared to single-use milk bottles.

This efficiency surpasses glass bottles, which must be reused more than 15 times to achieve similar emissions savings.

This initiative is expected to prevent approximately 450,000 single-use plastic milk bottles, or 23 tonnes of plastic, from ending up in landfills or being incinerated annually.

The bottles are tailored to Abel & Cole’s cleaning process, omitting the drying stage to reduce contamination risks. Their design excludes a handle, facilitating better cleaning and easy drainage, thus minimizing bacterial ‘trap points’.

The bottles are compatible with Abel & Cole’s factory equipment, including its low-density polyethylene caps and single-use milk crates, avoiding additional investment costs.

Berry conducted extensive chemical testing to ensure the PP bottles’ durability and ability to withstand high processing temperatures without the breakage issues associated with glass.

The bottle labels serve as an ‘early warning’ system, indicating when a bottle is due for recycling after multiple washes.

The first 3D-printed samples for migration testing were produced in June 2023, and the bottles were shipped to customers by October of that year.

Since the launch, the Club Zero one-litre refillable milk bottle has experienced a 20% weekly sales increase. Abel & Cole reports a 64% return rate and aims for at least 75%.

Berry and Wells partner to launch new packaging for Blue Bunny Twist pints

Berry Global has partnered with Wells Enterprises, a US-based ice cream manufacturer, to introduce new sustainable packaging for its Blue Bunny Twist pints.

The single-serve, freezer-grade pints are now available at major US retailers, including Kroger, Walmart, Food Lion, and Albertsons.

The new Twist pints are made from widely recyclable polypropylene (PP) and feature a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) lid, enhancing the recyclability of traditional ice-cream packaging.

This shift from plastic-lined, paper-based board to recyclable materials represents a significant step forward in sustainable packaging for the sector.

Designed for efficient transportation and storage, the Twist pints are nestable, reducing the space needed during transit and decreasing the number of truckload shipments required.

This design optimizes the supply chain and lessens the environmental impact of emissions.

Wells Enterprises strategic sourcing director Julee Zugel said, “Berry is an excellent partner for Wells. They understand our need for innovative, sustainable packaging and have worked closely with us to develop it.

“We appreciate how engaged they are with our team in understanding new opportunities in the packaging arena. They are innovative, forward-thinking, and exemplify how a partnership should work.”

The new packaging resembles Berry’s custom 48oz PP containers for Blue Bunny’s scoopable ice-cream line. The translucent pints are available in seven soft, DUAL-icious flavours, including Chocolate Vanilla and Strawberries & Cream.

Berry Global national accounts sales director Matt Chase said, “Now more than ever, the ability to access innovative, recyclable packaging is crucial for our customers as they strive to meet evolving sustainability demands.

“Through strong value-chain partnerships such as these, we are designing products more effectively to foster cleaner communities for future generations without compromising on convenience or shelf appeal.”

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