The German discount retail chain Penny Markt has replaced PET bottles with aluminium can packaging[packaging?:DCP-H series packaging sample cutter plotter] for ten of its beverages, indicating that PET is falling out of favour in the country's beverage packaging market. Penny Markt is now using aluminium cans instead of PET packaging for the beverage brands Bitburger, and Penny Markt’s own-label Adelskronen. Carbonated soft beverages such as Pepsi, Fanta, Sprite and Red Bull are all suffering the same fate.
The company is extending the change to aluminium can in other German states with beverage brands that have a strong market position, as well as a full range of beverage, from Coca-Cola and Pepsi to Lipton Ice Tea.
Penny Markt justifies its move back to aluminium cans by saying that today’s aluminium cans have a better design that has cut weight by 30%. In addition, the recycling rate has increased from around 36% in the 1990’s to 96% today, claims the firm. There are also handling advantages for aluminium cans over PET bottles because of the shape and stacking capability of aluminium cans, while higher thermal conductivity in metal means faster cooling and energy savings, the company adds.
One thing seems certain; there will be less PET used in German beverage packaging in future on account of the move to aluminium cans being made by the discount retail chains.
