United Caps expands carton closure portfolio for flexible sourcing

LUXEMBOURG – United Caps has annpounced it is expanding its portfolio with carton packaging closures designed to run on existing tethered and non-tethered packaging lines without requiring machine modifications or setting adjustments.

United Caps’ portfolio currently centres on the established 23 H-Pak and is set to expand with the 27 H-Pak for aluminium and aluminium-free complexes. 

The two solutions can be applied to dairy, juice, stocks, soups and selected non-liquid products. 

According to the company, carton packaging is typically sourced as an integrated system, from the complex through to the capping line. 

The new solution aims to provide an alternative, enabling customers to assess the closure as a separate sourcing decision while retaining the existing complex and equipment.

Tethered Configuration Aligns With PPWR Requirements

In its tethered configuration, the 23 H-Pak closure locks in the open position and remains clear of the pouring area. 

United Caps said testing of the 27 H-Pak for aluminium and aluminium-free complexes has been completed and validated, with market launch planned for the end of 2027. 

The solution aims to provide customers with more options when defining future carton packaging specifications. 

Tethered closures address regulatory requirements emerging under the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, which mandates that plastic caps and lids remain attached to beverage containers during use, reducing litter from detached components.

Independent Sourcing Reduces Supply Chain Risk

Alan Quéméneur, chief growth officer at United Caps, said a closure was one component of the carton pack, adding that buyers should be able to evaluate and source it according to the same technical and commercial criteria as any other component without changing the rest of the line. 

The company said treating the closure as an independently sourced component gave procurement teams another option, noting that a qualified second source could reduce dependence on a single supplier while allowing the established complex and equipment to remain in place. 

This flexibility matters for beverage producers managing supply chain risk, as disruptions to a single integrated supplier can halt filling operations entirely.

Bio-Based and Recycled Materials Support Regulatory Compliance

United Caps highlighted that the two closures can be manufactured utilising mass-balanced bio-based resin or recycled material as part of customers’ preparations for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. 

Previously, United Caps and Mimica partnered to debut a closure technology called Touchcap for food waste reduction, which works with a specialised gel that never contacts the food product yet changes the cap surface from smooth to bumpy as food deteriorates.

The expansion reflects growing demand for component-level flexibility in carton packaging, allowing brands to adapt sourcing strategies while maintaining line compatibility and meeting sustainability targets.

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