PET Bottle – StarLITE®-R Premium: Sidel’s New rPET Bottle Base Elevates High-End Packaging 16-09-2024

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StarLITE®-R Premium: Sidel’s New rPET Bottle Base Elevates High-End Packaging

Sidel has introduced the StarLITE®-R Premium, a sophisticated, high-performance bottle base designed specifically for the premium market. This innovative base caters to 100 percent rPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate) bottles used for liquid dairy products, flavored water, juices, nectars, soft drinks, isotonics, and teas. The design aims to deliver an exceptional consumer experience, offering durability, premium aesthetics, and environmental sustainability. PET Bottle

According to Pierrick Protais, Packaging Innovator Leader at Sidel, “This bottle is crafted for premium markets where consumers expect not only top-tier performance but also visual appeal. Our new bottle design ensures that it withstands every stage of the production and supply chain process, from factory to shelf and finally into the consumer’s hands. The quality and performance of the bottle have undergone rigorous testing in Sidel’s laboratories under real industrial conditions.”

Streamlined Aesthetic with Superior Technical Features

Premium bottles traditionally require greater rigidity and thickness to ensure the product maintains its integrity, particularly under high-speed manufacturing conditions.

However, thicker PET bottles tend to deform, especially at the base. PET Bottle

The StarLITE®-R Premium solves this issue by offering a sleek, streamlined design that maintains its aesthetic appeal without compromising technical performance. The base is compatible with both round and square-round shaped bottles and supports various bottle sizes, whether single-serve or multi-serve, as well as both opaque and transparent PET bottles.

The technical features of the StarLITE®-R Premium enable it to be blown at high speeds, maintaining maximum base performance and providing an elegant, flat-bottomed design. Sidel’s patented vault technology optimizes the geometry of the bottle base, eliminating visible ribs and ensuring even material distribution. PET Bottle

The tall central dome, combined with lower radiating ridges of varying widths and lengths, provides stability and efficient material use, resulting in a wide-standing surface for enhanced bottle stability. Additionally, the mould design incorporates an enhanced cooling circuit that improves the chilling of the base, which is crucial for rPET, as it is processed at higher temperatures compared to virgin PET.

These features make the StarLITE®-R Premium capable of high-speed production, reaching up to 2,500 bottles per hour per mould. PET Bottle

This capability is especially beneficial for manufacturers seeking to balance speed with product integrity and appearance.

Sustainability and Environmental Benefits

The premium bottle market is often criticized for its environmental impact due to the heavier use of PET material and higher energy consumption during production. However, the StarLITE®-R Premium directly addresses these concerns by offering a sustainable alternative without sacrificing quality. “Premium bottles typically use more PET and require higher blowing pressure, which increases their carbon footprint,” notes Protais. “With growing regulations focusing on reducing environmental impact, manufacturers are searching for exclusive product solutions that also provide carbon savings. This is exactly what StarLITE®-R Premium delivers.” PET Bottle

One of the standout features of the StarLITE®-R Premium is its ability to be manufactured entirely from 100 percent rPET. Sidel has adapted its mould technology to ensure that the rPET material delivers high-quality bottles while reducing the required blowing pressure. This results in significant carbon savings—up to 3,100 tonnes of CO2 per year can be saved by switching from virgin PET to 100 percent rPET. Additionally, by reducing the blowing pressure by 25 percent compared to a typical premium bottle, manufacturers can achieve a further reduction of 61 tonnes of CO2 annually. PET Bottle

Versatility in Production and Integration

The StarLITE®-R Premium base is designed to accommodate various bottle formats, ranging from 0.25L to 2L, making it highly versatile for different production needs. The base is compatible with a wide range of premium bottle weights and can be integrated seamlessly into existing production lines. It can be produced on Sidel’s EvoBLOW, Universal, and Series 2 platforms and is suitable for both regular and aseptic filling lines. The ease of retrofitting ensures that manufacturers can incorporate this new bottle base without significant changes to their current setups. PET Bottle

Expanding the StarLITE®-R Range

StarLITE®-R Premium is the latest addition to Sidel’s growing StarLITE®-R range, which also includes designs like the StarLITE®-R Nitro for nitrogen-dosed products and the original StarLITE®-R for carbonated soft drinks. Each variant within the StarLITE®-R range is engineered for different beverage categories, ensuring optimal bottle performance, durability, and sustainability.

The StarLITE®-R Nitro, introduced earlier in 2024, is tailored for nitrogen-dosed products and is designed for 100 percent rPET bottles. The StarLITE®-R for carbonated soft drinks, Sidel’s first rPET-based solution, offers enhanced protection against deformation, improved stability, and better resistance to bursting. PET Bottle

With the introduction of the StarLITE®-R Premium, Sidel continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovative, sustainable packaging solutions that meet the evolving needs of the beverage industry.

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