Polenghi Manufactures a Low-Carbon-Footprint Bottle for its New “Bio” Line of Organic Lemon Juice

Polenghi’s achievement demonstrates the first European commercial introduction of a proven, low-environmental impact and renewably sourced bioplastic substitute for polyolefin resins in extrusion-blow-molding applications.

Oct 8 2010 --- Using a new Ingeo blend formulation, Polenghi LAS has developed Europe’s first extrusion-blow-molded biobased bottle, Polenghi LAS and NatureWorks LLC, manufacturer of Ingeo bioplastic, reported. Ingeo bioplastic is made from renewable plant material, not oil.

By switching from polyolefin resin to Ingeo bioplastic for packaging 10 million bottles its new Bio organic lemon juice, Polenghi will conserve 1,000 barrels of oil and reduce CO2 emissions by 126 tons compared to an equivalent oil-based plastic squeeze bottle. Polenghi’s achievement demonstrates the first European commercial introduction of a proven, low-environmental impact and renewably sourced bioplastic substitute for polyolefin resins in extrusion-blow-molding applications. This bioplastic also offers stable pricing compared to the volatility experienced in the petroleum market.

Polyethylene and polypropylene are the polyolefins typically used in the extrusion-blow-molding process to produce the “soft” plastic packaging often used for food and personal care squeeze bottles.  The resin manufacturing process to produce Ingeo bioplastic emits 38 percent less CO2 and consumes 45 percent less energy than the resin manufacturing process for an equivalent weight low-density polyethylene. The resin manufacturing process to produce Ingeo bioplastic emits 31.6 percent less CO2 and consumes 42 percent less energy than the resin manufacturing process for polypropylene.

“We are extremely proud of the technical achievements that led to the development of this low-carbon-footprint Eco bottle, the first of its kind in Europe,” said  Marco Polenghi, sales director of Polenghi LAS.  “This bottle and shrink-sleeve label, both made from renewably sourced Ingeo bioplastic, presents us with the opportunity to differentiate our Bio organic lemon juice.”

“Over the past two years, we’ve seen the expansion of Ingeo applications into such manufacturing processes as injection molding and higher-heat thermoforming,” said Marc Verbruggen, president and chief executive officer of NatureWorks. “With its innovative Ingeo blend, Polenghi now offers a lower carbon emission/lower energy alternative to polyolefins in extrusion-blow-molding applications.”