Top DuPont Award Goes to Hot-Fill Blow Molded PET Container

Graham Packaging’s technology manipulates PET’s morphology to create a container with properties that surpass standard PET.

 

It is always interesting to see the winners—particularly the top winner, of the DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation, recognized globally as the industry’s longest running and leading packaging awards program. This international competition honors innovation in packaging design, materials, technology and processes.

 

Graham Packaging, Lancaster, Penn., was the Diamond Winner of DuPont’s 2016 Awards for Packaging Innovation for its innovative ThermaSet blow molded PET container for hot-fill, pasteurized food. I must admit that at a first skimpy glance, I wondered what was award-worthy about a hot-fillable PET bottle. But, hey, it’s worth checking out more details, as this packaging technology was honored for “technological advancement, responsible packaging and enhanced user experience”.

 

Turns out that the ThermalSet technology manipulates the morphology of PET, creating a container with properties that are said to be far beyond those of standard PET. Included are thermal stability above 300 F, 50% greater sidewall rigidity, and a 25% increase in oxygen barrier.

 

ThermaSet is described as a lighter weight, shatter resistant, drop-in replacement for glass on high-temperature fill lines, allowing for the use of existing manufacturing assets while retaining the universally preferred metal lug closure which indicates quality and freshness.

 

The ThermaSet technology’s reduced wall thickness results in a narrower jar that frees up valuable shelf space and provides the consumer with a safer package which is easier to handle, use and recycle. The jar, in fact, is 100% recyclable as PET code 1. ThermaSet is said to offer retailers and brand owners high-clarity, rigid plastic containers that remove breakage, downtime and cost along the supply chain, while increasing convenience for the consumer.