Extrusion International USA 3-2020

34 Extrusion International 3/2020 EXTRUSION INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS Amcor has designeda familyof stockpolyethylene terephthal- ate (PET) bottles that helps co-packers meet the demanding re- quirements for ecommerce-ready packaging. OmniPack™ PET bottles increase capacity and reduce downtime because they have the same diameter with the same finish – only the height changes to accommodate the varying fill volumes. Small- and medium-sized brands with niche products have found that ecommerce supports their growth. Among the lat- est trends in ecommerce are younger consumers exploring new brands and products. At the same time, the industry has seen a shift in how products are packaged. For example, it’s not un- common now for salad dressing to be packaged in beverage bottles or olive oil in wine bottles. Amcor believes co-packers are uniquely positioned to satisfy these needs for optimized ecommerce packaging because they provide flexibility, agility, and resourcefulness. Agile co-packers have increasingly played a key role in ecommerce because they fill products formultiple customers inmultiple sizes andfinishes. This means several changes to the fill line, resulting in reduced capacity and downtime that could instead be used filling prod- uct. OmniPack maximizes operations and provides flexibility for co-packers. Amcor www.amcor.com OmniPack is a range of PET containers in 8-, 10-, and 12-oz sizes witha 38mmfinish that accepts continuous-threador beverage- style closures. Because all the containers all have the same foot- print, a co-packer can add a new size or switch quickly fromone size to another without adjusting guiderails or other variables that involve time and labor. The only adjustment is fill height. OmniPack containers greatly reduce or eliminate the need for secondary packaging and meet Amazon’s requirements for Prep-Free Packaging (PFP). They pass ISTA6 requirements, elimi- nate damage and product loss, andminimize shipping costs. PLASTICS Responds to Udall/Lowenthal Bill Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) President & CEO Tony Radoszewski said: “As drafted, we do not believe the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act of 2020 would effectively address pollution in the U.S. or globally. The title of this bill suggests it is more in- terested in garnering headlines than it is in finding solutions. Plastics only account for 13% of municipal solid waste in the U.S. Any effort to specifically target plastic materials – that, after life-cycle analysis, prove to be more environmentally- desirable than other materials – would be misguided at best and harmful at worst. Furthermore, this legislation’s efforts to shut down plastics manufacturing would hurt the nearly one million hard-working men and women in our industry and the nation’s economy as a whole. If we can make it easier for everyone to recycle in this country, andmake recyclingmore profitable, we could truly reduce the amount of litter that is finding its way into our waterways and ultimately our oceans. Measures like the RECOVER Act – which would designate funds to improve the recycling infrastructure in this country – and other efforts like the RECYCLE Act and the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act provide better approaches than what we’ve seen in the “Break Free” Act. We look forward to continuing the discussion with Senator Tom Udall and Representative Alan Lowenthal and all law- makers to educate them about the benefits plastics provide and the environmental, economic and medical dangers that would accompany ignoring those benefits.” The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) plasticsindustry.org Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) President & CEO Tony Radoszewski OmniPack™Stock PET Bottles Meet Co-Packer Demands of Ecommerce-Ready Packaging