Launched in Germany in September in a 300ml bottle, ALPLA and zerooo create the first reusable PET bottle for cosmetics and home care products.
Packaging and recycling specialist ALPLA and zerooo initiator SEA ME have developed a standardised solution for cosmetics and care products. From September, the first brands will be presenting shampoo, shower gel, detergent, body lotion and dental care products in its reusable 300ml PET bottles. This fully recyclable and reusable plastic packaging is available in three colours and is suitable for all caps.
A laser-engraved 2D data matrix code provides information on the contents of each bottle and its circulation.
zerooo stands for reusable packaging that fosters the circular economy in the cosmetics industry. The system offered by start-up SEA ME offers brands and manufacturers safe, affordable and sustainable PET bottles, in addition to glass bottles, for the first time. Together with ALPLA and 10 brand partners, the company has developed a fully recyclable solution. The reusable PET bottle, with a 300ml volume, is available in clear, milky white and brown options. It is suitable for all caps and can also be used as a shatterproof alternative for toiletries used in the shower. Additional formats are planned for the range.
European rollout
From September, the first manufacturers in Germany will present cosmetics and care products in PET containers from the zerooo reusable system, with Austria following suit in October. This is in addition to SEA ME’s own brand, which includes sodasan, i+m Naturkosmetik, Speick, Denttabs, 4 people who care and Aveo from Müller. There are approximately 1 000 collection points of zerooo retail partners where empties can be returned for a deposit of €0.50.
As a globally active packaging manufacturer and recycling specialist, ALPLA is promoting closed ‘bottle-to-bottle’ cycles with its own plants. The company contributes its expertise as a system supplier while supporting customers with design. The zerooo reusable PET bottle was developed in tandem with the SEA ME team at ALPLA’s in-house STUDIOa design centre at the company’s headquarters in Hard, Austria.
The design innovation is in the details
‘”With ‘Design for Recycling’, we are setting the course early on for optimum recycling and the longest possible service life. Every detail counts when it comes to shape, colour and material. The reusable system extends the life cycle of the plastic bottle, saves material and reduces its carbon footprint,” emphasises Alexander Tränkle, industrial designer at ALPLA.
“With its wealth of knowledge, the ALPLA development team provided us with significant support in implementing the brand and reusable packaging requirements. We are proud to have succeeded in integrating the individual serialisation of bottles directly into the production process for the first time. This innovation enables groundbreaking data applications for packaging in the context of reuse,” explains Mirko Waraszik, director of supply chain and co-founder of zerooo at SEA ME GmbH.
Serialisation code for transparency and quality
Each zerooo reusable PET bottle is unique. A laser-engraved 2D data matrix code – the zerooo ID – provides information about the content and circulation history.
“The digital labelling enables transparency and ensures the quality of the bottles. By combining it with the information from the label, it can also be complemented with further product data,” explains Jörg Schwärzler, senior technology manager at ALPLA.
The reusable PET bottle is compatible with all automatic return systems. At the end of their life cycle, the bottles and caps are sorted and recycled.
ALPLA operates recycling plants for PET and HDPE in Austria, Germany, Poland, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Romania and Thailand. Other projects are being realised elsewhere around the world.
