A bottle and cap solution from Berry Global, both made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic, is supporting the environmental goals of performance lubricants manufacturer Green Oil.
Green Oil produces alternative products described as more environmentally friendly than all-purpose lubricants and penetrating oils, which are traditionally made from petrochemicals. Instead, the company uses plant-based ingredients, which are fully biodegradable and free of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
For its Gardinól house, garden, DIY, office and workshop lubricant brand, Green Oil required a bottle made from 100% PCR plastic. After unsuccessful trials with another supplier, the company turned to Berry, which was able to supply at low Minimum Order Quantities an existing standard bottle. A particular challenge was to ensure the orifice was the correct size for controlled flow of the lubricants.
While the bottle was made using 100% PCR from the start, Berry revealed that the polypropylene (PP) closure and applicator nozzle proved more of a challenge as there was initially no reliable stream of PCR PP available. With the introduction of Berry’s proprietary CleanStream recycled plastic, the closure is now also being produced in PCR.
The product can be recycled at its end of life in countries where the appropriate recycling infrastructure exists, as the closure is manufactured using a non-carbon black masterbatch. This enables it to be detectable by the Near Infra-Red (NIR) scanners used in waste sorting processes.
“With Green Oil products we want to help deliver a cleaner, healthier planet, from soil to rivers to people, so it is important that our packaging also has as little environmental impact as possible,” said Green Oil founder Simon Nash. “Our bottles and closures are now not only made completely from recycled plastic but can also be recycled again. Berry has been an ideal partner throughout this development process, providing solutions to all our requirements, and expert advice to all our requests.”
To further strengthen the bottle’s environmental credentials, it is now being manufactured incorporating Prevented Ocean Plastics (POP), which is plastic waste saved from reaching the ocean and subsequently recycled.
“As well as their sustainability credentials, the bottle and closure are practical and user-friendly,” Simon Nash added. “Our partnership with Berry has been great for the environment and great for business.”
