German Packaging Award 2020: Krones wins in the “Sustainability” category

• On 25th August, the German Packaging Institute announced the German Packaging Award 2020 winners.
• Both Krones AG and its subsidiary, Dekron, can look forward to receiving an award in the “Sustainability” category.
• The prize-winning entry involves a beverage bottle, the design and lifecycle of which were comprehensively created in accordance with sustainability criteria.
• Both the bottle and all of the related technologies are already available as marketable products.

Each element designedwith an eye to recycling

With the “3 Circles”bottle, all of the individual elements and the entire lifecycle were designedto be sustainable. It is made one-hundred percent out of recycled PET and ititself can be completely recycled again after use. Instead of having a labelwhich is normally unable to be recycled, the bottle was decorated using adigital direct print. The inks used here dissolve in the recycling processwithout leaving any residues, meaning that the bottle material can be used onceagain for food packaging in the subsequent lifecycles without loss. A tetheredcap was selected as the closure. This cap remains firmly attached to the bodyof the bottle after opening and thus meets the requirements of EU directive2019/904.

Marketable overallconcept from tried and tested technologies

The leitmotif of“sustainability” is also reflected in the artwork displayed on the bottle printand – in a slightly more subtle manner – in the design of the bottle body. Forthe globally recognised recycling icon provided the inspiration for the idea ofthe tripodal base. The same rings true for the shoulder area which is the shapeof three rounded-off triangular areas and which generates a connection betweenthe bottle neck and body area which is very unusual for PET bottles, but whichremains harmonious.

The technologies forthe production, decoration and recycling of the bottle are already available atKrones and Dekron as standard products. The recycled starting material, thespecially designed preform, and the container and its decoration withenvironmentally friendly ink are all self-produced. “3 Circles“ is thus amarketable all-round concept for the sustainable packaging of beverages forcommercial use in the beverage industry.

Greatest Europeanperformance showcase

The internationallyadvertised German Packaging Prize is sponsored by the Federal Minister forEconomic Affairs and Energy and is viewed as being Europe’s greatest showcaseof performance in the field of packaging. According to the German PackagingInstitute, the variety of submissions was the greatest ever and the quality ofinnovations was at a very high level. The competition is open to companies,individuals and institutions, both domestic and abroad. The submitted entriesare assessed by an independent jury. The 22 members originate from theindustrial, trade, branded product and research sectors.