bottles, caps & closures


Closures: A changing industy


How are caps and closures helping both the environment and an ageing population? By Peter McGeough


Peter McGeough is co-founder and head of operations at Bapco Closures. For more information, visit www.bapcoclosures.com.


Looking back over the past few years it is incredible to think how many developments have occurred across the food and drink packaging industry. The focus of plastic and glass packaging over the thirteen years that I have been in the industry has changed from functional basic containers with a simple screw top lid to consumer friendly products that really consider the home-user. Bottles are now fitted with a whole range of closures to better suit the consumer’s lifestyle.


D


espite these changes, the circular screw top has remained a constant.


Perhaps this is because the design has been perfectly functional for many years. However no one design suits all and I believe it can be improved.


Extensive sums of money are


spent researching and changing the shape and design of containers to ensure the product stands out next to its competitors, yet the same effort is not dedicated to closures. Although the closure may not be seen by the consumer on- shelf, it is often the product’s most important feature. We all know how frustrating it


is resealing a jar of sauce and hoping it will retain its freshness. Or trying to open a new bottle of milk which proceeds to leak all over your kitchen worktops and fridge.


This aim of eliminating 24 FMCG News


leakages from milk bottles was the initial reason why we set up Bapco Closures. We initially created a closure that prevented milk from escaping and Marks and Spencer last year implemented the closure system into 13 of its pickled food lines. The use of this closure by the


retailer was a sign that they are recognising the need to adapt packaging to our ageing population. Currently there are over 12 million pensioners in the UK, with the number of people aged over 65 predicted to rise sharply in the next 25 years. The FMCG industry must pay attention to this forecast and adapt in order to cater for this change in population dynamic. However, Marks and Spencer seem to be one of only a handful who have recognised the effect of an ageing society on packaging needs. The change of the closure also enabled the retailer to switch to a plastic container for the range. This has in turn facilitated an improvement in functionality and safety levels compared to its old glass packaging and reduced the weight by 80% - an important consideration in the global food and drink industry. This time however, Marks and Spencer isn’t the only company making moves; others are taking steps to reduce their environmental impact. Nestlé recently commissioned


research across Europe, which found that the use of plastic baby food pots in France, Germany and


Spain had a significant reduction in environmental impact compared to glass. The report highlighted that plastic uses 14- 27% less primary energy and contributes 28-38% less towards global warming. However, despite these findings, the industry has been slow to adapt to plastic’s advantages. Plastic not only produces a lower carbon footprint and lighter, safer containers, but also offers greater versatility with regards to the choice of closure. Yet consumers are reluctant to make the switch as they are familiar with glass and understand its properties. I have been in the packaging industry long enough to realise that consumers know what they like and like what they know. Glass packaging has been around for years so it is understandable that the industry is wary of changing to plastic. For me, the greatest hindrance to radical progress has been the packaging sector’s reluctance to recognise that the whole packet design, including both container and closure, qualifies equal consideration from the start. This would ultimately offer greater flexibility and freedom in the overall design, enabling brand owners to add even more value to their products.


Whilst the battle isn’t over, it’s encouraging to see retailers like M&S continually innovating and looking to improve functionality for customers.


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