Smart Packaging

Used by waiters and bartenders, the tech can track top consumption times and places. Pic: Supplied by Coca-Cola

Wecheer wins Coca-Cola HBC’s start-up challenge

By Rachel Arthur

Bottle-as-a-Service platform and app Wecheer – whose patented ‘smart bottle opener’ can track every bottle opened to pinpoint the time, location and brand of consumption – has been named as the winner of Coca-Cola HBC’s €100k Start-Up Challenge.

Pic: From gourmet snacks to cosmetics, packaging machines for the ecommerce market will be in high demand. getty/3alexd

Robots, e-commerce and sustainability drive packaging machine design

By Rachel Arthur

US packaging machinery shipments in 2022 continued on 2021’s rapid growth trajectory. While economic uncertainty is now starting to hit the market, machines designed around sustainable packaging and those that cater for the boom in e-commerce will continue...

CCEP has strengthened its partnership with CuRe Technology to accelerate its progress towards 0% virgin PET

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CCEP makes further investment in eliminating virgin plastics

By Gwen Ridler

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has strengthened its commitment to eliminating virgin plastics in its bottles with an investment in scaling up technology to convert hard to recycle polyester into high quality recycled PET (rPET).

Scotland has delayed their Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) until 2024. Source: Terri Lee-Shield Photography/Getty Images

Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) delayed until 2024

By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has been delayed. The scheme, which had been due to start in August, will not now begin until 1 March 2024. The delay is proving controversial, with many campaign groups speaking out against it. However, some drinks...

Pic:getty/taveesaksri

Does beer stay fresher in bottles or cans?

By Rachel Arthur

The flavor of beer begins to change as soon as it’s packaged - so does it stay fresher in a bottle or can? In a new study published in ACS Food Science & Technology, scientists looked at each packaging format.

A 20cl bottle provides 1-2 glasses of wine: much better suited to some occasions than a traditional 75cl bottle. Pic: getty/indigolotos

guest article

Why are wine miniatures a fast-growing format?

By Alex Green, co-founder, Beyond Wines

From being ‘cute’ to helping manage consumption, the miniature wine format is growing in popularity with consumers. Alex Green, co-founder of wine distributor Beyond Wines and creator of premium wine brand Liquid Diamond, takes a look what makes the format...

Some progress has been made towards 2025 targets, but according to Greenpeace USA, the report 'pours cold water' on commitments made by signatories. GettyImages/gaffera

Big Food plastic targets ‘expected to be missed'

By Flora Southey

Signatories to the Global Commitment and Plastic Pact – which includes more than 20 packaged food and beverage producers – are unlikely to all meet 2025 targets designed to ‘tackle plastic pollution at its source’.

Pic:getty/ElenVD

Thinking outside the bottle: Reimagining wine packaging

By Rachel Arthur

Rising costs, supply chain challenges and an increased focus on sustainability provide the perfect opportunity for the wine industry to rethink its packaging. So what alternatives are emerging to the traditional glass bottle?

Pic: Absolut

Absolut develops fiber-based bottle cap

By Rachel Arthur

The Absolut Company, part of Pernod Ricard, has partnered with Blue Ocean Closures (BOC), a start-up based in Sweden, to develop an innovative natural fiber-based closure cap for its bottle.

Pic:Suntory

Suntory reveals 100% plant-based bottle

By Rachel Arthur

Suntory Group has created a prototype PET bottle made from 100% plant-based materials: which will be initially used with Orangina in Europe and mineral water Suntory Tennensui in Japan.