organisation have been well received by customers .
Even the more radical design changes are accepted if they have a sustainable purpose : tethered caps on plastic bottles , for instance , are broadly or strongly supported by 53 % of the UK despite the initial debate .
Another design change that has proven popular with PET bottle manufacturers is lightweighting , which involves reducing the material used for each bottle whilst retaining its strength and durability . This technique is playing a critical role in achieving sustainability goals . Bottles made with less material have lower carbon footprints from the point of production , with fewer resources required for manufacture .
The challenge of lightweighting is retaining the integrity of bottled products , which are filled at rapid rates on production lines and must retain enough structural resilience so they do not “ fail while filling ” ( as this causes lengthy downtime ).
Appropriate testing procedures are vital for lightweighting to determine whether thinner bottles are durable enough for filling and distribution . Burst testing , for instance , informs packagers whether a bottle is capable of withstanding pressure ( particularly in the case of carbonated drinks ) and if this lighter material has the required resilience .
Testing is also used to analyse the material thickness distribution around the entire geometry of a bottle . Measurement data from equipment like a semi-automatic thickness gauge offers essential feedback to fine-tune the blow moulding process and ensure that product integrity is maintained while aligning with lightweighting objectives .
The move to rPET
Packaging manufacturers are increasingly meeting consumer demand for sustainability by incorporating recycled PET , or rPET , into their products . While virgin plastic is made from natural gas or crude oil , blending a targeted percentage of rPET into packaging helps lower the carbon footprint . Using measurement data , manufacturers can adjust the amount of rPET based on the required quality and strength of the final product .
Inspecting key dimensional features of the bottle , such as thread design , is essential for producing ecofriendly packaging . This ensures proper interaction with the bottle cap , maintains seal integrity , and improves the overall customer experience .
Testing new innovations in plastic
Producing PET bottles allows for a lower carbon footprint than some alternative packaging methods . However , constantly evolving sustainability goals , consumer expectations , and the increasing link between packaging design and brand identity mean that companies must keep innovating . And for innovation to thrive , this must be supported by advanced test and measurement solutions .
The most effective testing technology empowers plastic packaging manufacturers to implement the upgrades consumers demand while ensuring high-quality standards are consistently met .
Learn more about how packaging professionals are navigating external factors in Industrial Physics ’ latest research here .
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