Beverage Packaging Research Articles

The Role of Efficiency in Beverage Packaging Industry

In fact, the performance of an organization is reflected in its efficiency and best resource utilization. For manufacturing companies, efficient production is a major element of operational efficiency. The main purpose of this study is to identify the factors that affect the efficiency of the beverage Can industry at Ball Egypt, including the availability and quality of raw materials, good conditions for the work environment, planning, high machine capability, and purchasing power, in addition to the contributions of communication, on-the-job training, and intellectual capital to boost the efficiency of the plant. The study used the scale method by using surveys distributed individually to employees as the main tool for data collection. Discovering that the work environment and planning are core functions has an impact on plant efficiency and makes the best use of available resources. High-quality raw materials and machine capability drive the entity to increase productivity and minimize downtime while increasing efficiency. Purchasing power helps to keep lines stable and machine durability high, but it had a negative impact on efficiency. To maximize the outcome of any activity, communication is required to share ideas and handle tasks between departments, as well as to resolve conflicts that may arise. Intellectual capital involved in each department reinforced a good environment and continuously boost incremental development, especially for a fast-changing industry and emerging new entrants. On-the-job training prepares employees to improve their skills and work hard to meet efficiency goals. Through the study, it appeared that missing intentions from top management will cause high losses in efficiency. High-speed lines for beverage Can manufacturing are in dire need of all of these variables to scale up efficiency significantly. Efficiency and effectiveness are inextricably linked and have an impact on the output of any process. Creating a framework for critical factors that affect efficiency will aid the organization's efforts to improve the efficiency of its operations.

Monitoring health and nutrition claims on food labels in Brazil.

The monitoring of nutrition and health claims on food and beverage labels has been proposed by international and national organizations because it can collaborate with the development of public policies to regulate food labeling and marketing strategies. One way of carrying out this monitoring is by using data collected by private companies. To compare information on nutrition and health claims available in a commercial database of a private company that monitors the launch of new foods and beverages in Brazilian food retailers with information on those same claims manually coded by trained research assistants. This is a cross-sectional observational study using a data sample of newly launched food and beverages available at a commercial database from 2018 to 2021. We compared the information on health and nutrition claims available on the commercial dataset with reliable information on the same nutrition and health claims manually coded by trained research assistants using a tested taxonomy to classify such claims. We used Gwet's Kappa AC1 with 95% CI and percentage agreement to compare both data sources and calculated sensitivity and specificity of the compared data. A total of 6,722 foods and beverages were analyzed. Mintel-GNPD presented 36.28% (n = 2,439) of nutrition claims, while in the trained researchers' coding, it was 33.73% (n = 2,267). We found a prevalence of 5.4% (n = 362) for health claims in Mintel-GNPD and 10.8% (n = 723) in the researchers' coding. All subcategories of nutrition and health claims showed high agreement (Kappa >0.81). Health claims presented kappa = 0.89 with 33.7% sensitivity and 98.0% specificity while nutrition claims showed kappa = 0.86 with 92.9% sensitivity and 92.5% specificity. Nutrition and health claims showed high agreement, with great results in nutrition claims, indicating that Mintel-GPND is suitable for monitoring such claims on food and beverage packaging in Brazil. Additionally, our findings show a high prevalence of nutrition and health claims on food packages launched in the Brazilian food retail, highlighting the need to monitor these to develop public policies to regulate food marketing on packaging in Brazil.

Assessment of the contribution of residential waste burning to ambient PM10 concentrations in Hungary and Romania

Abstract. The illegal burning of solid waste in residential stoves is an existing practice, but until now it has been completely disregarded as an emission source of atmospheric pollutants in many developed countries, including those in eastern Europe. Various types of solid waste (plastics, treated wood, plyboards, tyre, rag) serve as an auxiliary fuel in many households, in particular during the heating season. In this work, for the first time ever in atmospheric pollution studies, specific tracer compounds identified previously in controlled test burnings of different waste types in the laboratory were detected and quantified in ambient PM10 samples collected in five Hungarian and four Romanian settlements. Using the identified tracers and their experimentally determined relative emission factors, the potential contribution of illegal waste burning emissions to ambient PM10 mass concentrations was assessed. Our findings implied that the burning of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-containing waste (food and beverage packaging, clothes) was predominant at all the locations, especially in north-eastern Hungary and Romania. There is substantial evidence that the burning of scrap furniture is also common in big cities in Hungary and Romania. Back-of-the-envelope calculations based on the relative emission factors of individual tracers suggested that the contribution of solid waste burning particulate emissions to ambient PM10 mass concentrations may be as high as a few percent. This finding, when considering the extreme health hazards associated with particulate emissions from waste burning, is a matter of serious public health concern.

Analysis of consumer preferences and attitudes towards sustainable consumption of plastic beverage packaging in Malaysia

One of the challenges towards promoting plastic packaging sustainability in Malaysia is the lack of awareness on plastic consumption among consumers and the absence of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme. Consumers play a significant role in contributing towards better management of plastic packaging. Using plastic beverage packaging as an example, a survey was carried out on consumer willingness to participate in an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system and pay for a more sustainable packaging option. Some open-ended questions were also applied to implore on factors that would encourage consumer participation in sustainable plastic packaging management. A majority of the respondents gave positive responses towards their willingness to participate and willingness to pay for a more environmentally friendly plastic packaging options. The results also showed that the respondents will be more encouraged to participate if it is convenient for them to do so, but also raised the need for a better management system, infrastructure, mindset, awareness and education to be in place. The results provided valuable insights to both policy makers and the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector in determining the way forward for solid waste management in general and plastic packaging policy and management in particular.

Evaluation of the Mechanical Performance of Concrete Reinforced with PET Fibers: A Sustainable Approach

Most of the bottles manufactured with PET polymer (polyethylene terephthalate) are used in beverage packaging and, after use, are turned into garbage, causing environmental problems. The concept of recycling and reuse of these materials for use in civil construction can become an interesting solution for the reduction of urban solid waste that would be destined to the formation of large volumes in sanitary landfills. Seeking to minimize this problem, this work used discarded PET bottles, ground into fibers, to prepare a concrete-based composite. The behavior of concrete composites with the addition of PET fibers in different compositions 7.5 kg/m³, 10 kg/m³ and 12.5 kg/m³ was evaluated. The choice of these concentrations aimed to study the addition of a reasonable amount of PET, characterizing greater reuse of a recycled material, seeking to provide a reinforcement effect in the cementitious matrix. The samples were subjected to mechanical tests of axial compression and diametral compression in a duly calibrated hydraulic press. For the axial compression test, the composite with 10 kg/m³ showed better mechanical performance. Probably at this content, the fibers were better distributed in the concrete for axial compression, resisting more to the fracture point, surpassing the composite of 12.5 kg/m³ by 24% in resistance to compression. For the axial compression test, the composite with 10 kg/m³ showed better mechanical performance, because in this composition there was an ideal amount for the homogenization of the PET fibers in the concrete, achieving a greater reinforcement effect. For the permeability test, the composites prepared with higher percentages of PET showed a lower percentage of permeability (44% lower than the content of 7.5 kg/m³), absorbing less water in this composition, in an axial position. This can be attributed to the fact that the distributed PET fibers act as an impermeable barrier, offering greater resistance to water absorption in the material.

Polyethylene Terephthalate Hydrolases in Human Gut Microbiota and Their Implications for Human Health.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), primarily utilized for food and beverage packaging, consistently finds its way into the human gut, thereby exerting adverse effects on human health. PET hydrolases, critical for the degradation of PET, have been predominantly sourced from environmental microbial communities. Given the fact that the human gut harbors a vast and intricate consortium of microorganisms, inquiry into the presence of potential PET hydrolases within the human gut microbiota becomes imperative. In this investigation, we meticulously screened 22,156 homologous sequences that could potentially encode PET hydrolases using the hidden Markov model (HMM) paradigm, drawing from 4984 cultivated genomes of healthy human gut bacteria. Subsequently, we methodically validated the hydrolytic efficacy of five selected candidate PET hydrolases on both PET films and powders composed of micro-plastics (MPs). Notably, our study also unveiled the influence of both diverse PET MP powders and their resultant hydrolysates on the modulation of cytokine expression in macrophages. In summary, our research underscores the ubiquitous prevalence and considerable potential of the human gut microbiota in PET hydrolysis. Furthermore, our study significantly contributes to the holistic evaluation of the potential health hazards posed by PET MPs to human well-being.

Sustainable packaging materials for fermented probiotic dairy or non-dairy food and beverage products: challenges and innovations.

The food and beverage packaging industry has experienced remarkable growth in recent years. Particularly the requirement for appropriate packaging materials used for the sale of fermented products is boosted due to the rising acceptance of economical functional foods available to consumers on the shelves of their local supermarkets. The most popular nutraceutical foods with increased sales include natural yogurts, probiotic-rich milk, kefir, and other fermented food and beverage products. These items have mainly been produced from dairy-based or non-dairy raw materials to provide several product options for most consumers, including vegan and lactose-intolerant populations. Therefore, there is a need for an evaluation of the potential developments and prospects that characterize the growth of the food packaging industry in the global market. The article is based on a review of information from published research, encompassing current trends, emerging technologies, challenges, innovations, and sustainability initiatives for food industry packaging.

Quick-dissolvable heat-sealable edible films made from orange peel powder and guar gum for instant beverage packaging

Water-soluble films provide convenience, notably in scenarios requiring single-dose or on-the-go packaging, such as dissolvable sachets for individual servings of beverages, effectively minimising excess packaging waste. The main aim of this study was to create edible films that are water-soluble and heat-sealable by utilising a blend of guar gum and orange peel powder. The study investigated the impact of varying orange peel powder content on guar gum edible films’ properties. Physical (thickness, moisture content, swelling index, density, solubility), optical (colour, opacity, light transmittance), and barrier (water vapour transmission rate, water vapour permeability) properties of the films with different concentrations of orange peel powder were evaluated. Moreover, within the scope of utilising these films for packaging dry instant beverages, they were heat-sealed to form pouches and then filled with dry orange peel powder to evaluate their ability to dissolve instantly. As the orange peel powder content in the films increased, thickness, density, and colour parameters such as redness, yellowness, ΔE, chroma, hue angle, and browning index also increased, resulting in more thick, vivid colours and significant colour changes. Conversely, moisture content, swelling index, and light transmittance decreased with higher orange peel levels, impacting the films' textural properties and rendering them more opaque for better protection against light, oxygen, and heat, essential for extending food product shelf life. Moreover, solubility increased as the orange peel content increased, indicating greater water interaction facilitated by the extract's potential plasticising effect.

A Study On Basic Requirements Of Sustainable Package Design Through ESG Design Analysis -Focusing on cases of domestic food and beverage package in 2021-

A Study On Basic Requirements Of Sustainable Package Design Through ESG Design Analysis -Focusing on cases of domestic food and beverage package in 2021-

PKM Inisiasi Industri Mikro Pengolahan Plastik Limbah Kemasan Makanan dan Minuman - Desa Wringinsongo, Kec-Tumpang, Malang

Mitra Pengabdian Masyarakat is a waste bank that manages various waste generated by households. One of the dominant types of waste is plastic waste of beverage and food packaging, which are types 1 and 5. This waste has high economic value if processed into displays, as raw material for recycled products. Around the village there are a number of sources of plastic waste. Thus, this waste bank has the potential to become a micro industry for displaying plastic waste, food and beverage packaging. The purpose of this PkM is to initiate waste banks into plastic production units for the plastic recycling industry.The method carried out is to improve the ability of waste tire managers to become production system managers. For this reason, training on production system management was given to waste bank managers. Then training on the operation and maintenance of plastic chopper machines is given. After that, assistance is carried out so that they can run the production system. As a result, they already understand the management of the plastic display production system for food and beverage packaging waste. In addition, it can also produce products according to consumer needs. This production unit can only run next year, because it requires an injection of capital to be obtained from the 2024 village budget allocation.

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals from beverage packaging materials and risk assessment for consumers

This study investigated the influence of beverage packaging materials on the presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastic, glass, carton, aluminium, and tin canned non-alcoholic beverages. Results showed that 63 EDCs including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), bisphenols, parabens, benzophenone-type UV-filters, biocides, nitrophenols, and alkylphenols, were detected in 144/162 screened products. Detected ∑63EDC concentrations ranged from 1.3 to 19,600 ng/L. EDC concentrations were higher in beverages packaged in metal cans while lower or no levels were detected in glass, plastic, and carton packaged drinks. Bisphenol levels were higher on average in canned beverages compared to glass (p < 0.01) and plastic products (p < 0.05) produced by the same brand and manufacturer. Two structural isomers of bisphenol A (BPA) were identified in 19 beverages, constituting the first detection in foodstuffs. The calculated daily intake of detected EDCs showed that exposure to BPA from per capita beverage consumption of 364 mL/day are up to 2000-fold higher than the newly revised safety guideline for BPA recommended by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority). Overall, these findings suggest that BPA exposure poses a potential health hazard for individuals who regularly consume non-alcoholic beverages packaged in aluminium or tin cans, particularly young children.

Consumer Behaviour in a Circular System – How Values Promote and Hinder the Participation of Young Adults in the Swedish Deposit-Refund System for Beverage Packaging

This study contributes to the understanding of how values promote and hinder circular consumer behaviour by examining and learning from the Swedish deposit-refund system for beverage cans and PET bottles. We have used the consumption value theory in our analysis, building on the concepts of circular economy, sustainable consumption and recycling. Data was collected from focus group interviews with young adults in order to identify and explore the ways that values promote and hinder participation. Functional values were found to be at the core of sustainable consumption as a result of financial incentives and the fact that consumers value convenience. The study also highlights the importance that young adults place on emotional values, in particular embarrassment, which hinders them from recycling. When it comes to sustainable consumption, young adults are driven by selfish behaviour, prioritising personal comfort. Social settings were also found to promote and hinder participation in the deposit-refund system. The study finds that an understanding of the reasons why different social groups and age groups approve or disapprove of participation in circular solutions may help design solutions to increase participation in circular solutions and circular economies. The results show that it is important to study the combinations of value dimensions to understand consumer behaviour in a circular system fully.

Solvent-targeted recovery of all major materials in beverage carton packaging waste

Liquid packaging boards are widely used for beverage packaging, but their complex composition poses challenges for recycling. These composites are occasionally recycled through hydropulping. However, this method only allows for partial recovery of the paperboard and produces a reject mixture of aluminium, plastics, and residual paper fiber. This study demonstrates the first process to purify all main components of beverage carton packaging waste derived from a commercial pulp mill using solvent-targeted recycling with multiple green solvents, such as p-cymene and ionic liquids. By utilizing this solvent-based process, all major components from the waste were recycled to their original forms in excellent purity, particularly aluminum—an essential industrial metal typically obtained through energy-intensive methods. Furthermore, the solvents used in our material recycling system can be recycled in high purity and reused in the fractionation process. The recovered paper fiber could be converted to the versatile platform chemical levulinic acid in good yield.

Large Scale Optical Projection Tomography without the Use of Refractive-Index-Matching Liquid.

The practical, rapid, and accurate optical 3D reconstruction of transparent objects with contemporary non-contact optical techniques, has been an open challenge in the field of optical metrology. The combination of refraction, reflection, and transmission in transparent objects makes it very hard to use common off-the-shelf 3D reconstruction solutions to accurately reconstruct transparent objects in three dimensions without completely coating the object with an opaque material. We demonstrate in this work that a specific class of transparent objects can indeed be reconstructed without the use of opaque spray coatings, via Optical Projection Tomography (OPT). Particularly, the 3D reconstruction of large thin-walled hollow transparent objects can be achieved via OPT, without the use of refractive-index-matching liquid, accurately enough for use in both cultural heritage and beverage packaging industry applications. We compare 3D reconstructions of our proposed OPT method to those achieved by an industrial-grade 3D scanner and report average shape differences of ±0.34 mm for 'shelled' hollow objects and ±0.92 mm for 'non-shelled' hollow objects. A disadvantage of using OPT, which was noticed on the thicker 'non-shelled' hollow objects, as opposed to the 'shelled' hollow objects, was that it induced partial filling of hollow areas and the deformation of embossed features.

The effectiveness of Canned Coffee packaging's graphic design elements in consumers' decision-making process

Studies recently focused on the important roles of graphic design elements in drawing consumers’ attention. The present study focuses on finding out the effectiveness of graphic design elements and colors of canned coffee packaging in consumers' decision-making process. This study was performed in two stages. The first stage included making graphic design elements: image, shape, and typography. In the second stage, the values were modified to see which color was the most attractive to the consumer by distributing questionnaires to 135 respondents. The study demonstrates the importance of packaging visuals, implying the need for attractive graphic design elements. Regarding the image, respondents preferred the photograph over the illustration. Meanwhile, regarding shape, respondents preferred fluid rather than pattern, and regarding typography, they preferred display over text. To conclude, respondents preferred light-colored photography, pattern and display. This result could be used as a reference in designing beverage packaging.

Effects of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics on cell growth, intracellular products and oxidative stress of Scenedesmus sp.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has been widely utilized in the synthesis of textile materials and packaging of foods and beverages. In recent years, it has been commonly detected in the form of microplastics (MPs) in wastewater. However, the effects of PET MPs on microalgal intracellular products and their interrelationships have been poorly investigated. In this study, the microalgae Scenedesmus sp. Strain H-1 was exposed to PET MPs to explore their effects on the growth, intracellular products (such as lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins), and antioxidative defense systems of Scenedesmus sp. The results demonstrated that PET MPs significantly reduced Scenedesmus sp. cell growth, with a maximum inhibition rate of 38.25% in the 500 mg L−1 treatment group. PET MPs had negative effects on glucose and nitrate utilization rates and reduced intracellular carbohydrates, intracellular proteins, and photosynthetic pigments. Surprisingly, PET MPs reduced acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity but induced lipid accumulation in microalgae. In addition, PET MPs significantly decreased the essential linoleic acid concentration and increased the palmitic acid content, resulting in reduced biodiesel quality. PET MPs induced the production of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. The results of the PCA indicated that the response mechanism of Scenedesmus sp. to PET MPs exposure was synergistic. This study provides fundamental data on the impact of MPs on the intracellular products of microalgae.

Feasibility of Reverse Vending Machine for PET Bottle Recycling in Case of ABC Hypermarket

The prevalence of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in beverage packaging has increased microplastic (MP) accumulation in the environment. MP can become a component of air pollution, especifically of particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5). Unfortunately, Thailand has a low recycling rate for plastic bottles, with only 4.5% being recycled. Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) were introduced in the early 2010s as a potential solution to this problem. RVMs incentivize recycling by providing rewards or refunds for each bottle deposited, thereby reducing the amount of PET waste and MP in the environment. This study analyzed usage and waste collection data from RVMs located at 15 locations of a hypermarket chain in Thailand from June 2020 to December 2022. The results showed that the average PET bottles collected from each machine was approximately 670 kg per year, which was lower than the break-even point of 3,200 kg per year. Economic feasibility indicators also suggested that the use of RVMs might not be economically sound. This study proposed suggestions to improve the business model of RVMs and offered policy recommendations to the government on how to enhance the effectiveness of RVMs.

Feasibility of Reverse Vending Machine for PET Bottle Recycling in Case of ABC Hypermarket

The prevalence of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in beverage packaging has increased microplastic (MP) accumulation in the environment. MP can become a component of air pollution, especifically of particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5). Unfortunately, Thailand has a low recycling rate for plastic bottles, with only 4.5% being recycled. Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) were introduced in the early 2010s as a potential solution to this problem. RVMs incentivize recycling by providing rewards or refunds for each bottle deposited, thereby reducing the amount of PET waste and MP in the environment. This study analyzed usage and waste collection data from RVMs located at 15 locations of a hypermarket chain in Thailand from June 2020 to December 2022. The results showed that the average PET bottles collected from each machine was approximately 670 kg per year, which was lower than the break-even point of 3,200 kg per year. Economic feasibility indicators also suggested that the use of RVMs might not be economically sound. This study proposed suggestions to improve the business model of RVMs and offered policy recommendations to the government on how to enhance the effectiveness of RVMs.

Techno-economic analyses of solar thermal process heat integration at South African beverage producers

South Africa's industrial sector relies primarily on coal and gas to meet process heat requirements (700–750 petajoules per annum). Much of this energy is used to fire steam boilers operated at less than 200 °C. This study determines the viability of solar thermal technologies as a replacement for fossil fuels for the supply of steam in large beverage facilities in South Africa. The Gauteng and Western Cape provinces are considered, which account for two-thirds of South Africa's beverage production. The sizing of collector fields and potential solar fractions are determined using typical ready-to-drink beverage packaging hall energy requirements. The cost of heat from parabolic trough collector systems is modelled using quasi-dynamic simulations in Polysun, and heat storage configurations are optimised. This study demonstrates that solar thermal projects would be viable alternatives to heavy fuel oil, diesel, gas, and even coal - should the cost of coal remain above US$250 /tonne (2020 real-term values). Transition to solar thermal energy for process heat in this sector is thus strongly recommended.

Bisphenol A contamination in aquatic environments: a review of sources, environmental concerns, and microbial remediation.

The production of polycarbonate, a high-performance transparent plastic, employs bisphenol A, which is a prominent endocrine-disrupting compound. Polycarbonates are frequently used in the manufacturing of food, bottles, storage containers for newborns, and beverage packaging materials. Global production of BPA in 2022 was estimated to be in the region of 10 million tonnes. About 65-70% of all bisphenol A is used to make polycarbonate plastics. Bisphenol A leaches from improperly disposed plastic items and enters the environment through wastewater from plastic-producing industries, contaminating, sediments, surface water, and ground water. The concentration BPA in industrial and domestic wastewater ranges from 16 to 1465 ng/L while in surface water it has been detected 170-3113 ng/L. Wastewater treatment can be highly effective at removing BPA, giving reductions of 91-98%. Regardless, the remaining 2-9% of BPA will continue through to the environment, with low levels of BPA commonly observed in surface water and sediment in the USA and Europe. The health effects of BPA have been the subject of prolonged public and scientific debate, with PubMed listing more than 17,000 scientific papers as of 2023. Bisphenol A poses environmental and health hazards in aquatic systems, affecting ecosystems and human health. While several studies have revealed its presence in aqueous streams, environmentally sound technologies should be explored for its removal from the contaminated environment. Concern is mostly related to its estrogen-like activity, although it can interact with other receptor systems as an endocrine-disrupting chemical. Present review article encompasses the updated information on sources, environmental concerns, and sustainable remediation techniques for bisphenol A removal from aquatic ecosystems, discussing gaps, constraints, and future research requirements.