Project description
A new green bottle cap
In Europe (and globally), glass is the most recycled closed loop packaging material in Europe. But while beer and wine bottles can be recycled, the caps cannot. In terms of sustainability, current closure systems for sparkling wine, beers and carbonated soft drinks are underperforming due to the materials used, like metal screw caps, and non-reusability features (cork closures are not reusable). The EU-funded Eco-Closure project has developed a new system to solve this problem. Its Twist & Pop closure system is based on a unique patented mono-material design that does not compromise the sensorial neutrality, ensures the sealing of carbonated beverages’ bottles, and most importantly is 100 % recyclable and reusable.
Objective
Have you ever realised that the cap on your beer bottle cannot be recycled? If so, then you are aware of one of the key problems in the Caps and Closures carbonated beverage market: the lack of sustainability. Current closures systems for sparkling wine, beers or carbonated soft drinks are underperforming due their highly demanding features and their current linear take-make-dispose system of use. Among technical challenges in the production and expedition processes are: oxidation in humid environments (e.g. during the production of sparkling wine in the traditional méthode Champenoise), difficulty in recycling multi-material closures like metal screw caps, non-reusability features (e.g. cork closure are not reusable), and the increased costs and production downtimes due to bottle breakage caused by the high force applied to the bottle in crown corks. Thus, current systems are inefficient in terms of sensorial, technical and environmental performance and do not comply with circular economy packaging requirements.
The Twist & Pop closure system is based on a unique patented mono-material design that does not compromise the sensorial neutrality, ensures the sealing of the carbonated beverages bottles and most importantly is 100% recyclable and reusable. Our innovative technology (TRL6) is the solution for the current sustainability challenges of the Caps & Closures market. We have more than 15 years of R&D trajectory and a solid ecosystem of stakeholders (e.g. Importacions Decavi, Della Toffola Group, HUSKY Injection Molding System). We have raised great interest among Spanish cava producers (Vallformosa), beer breweries (Heineken), and international players in packaging (HSK). We plan to develop our prototypes up to a market-ready solution at their facilities. We aim to become a global leader in the design and manufacture of smart Caps & Closures for the carbonated beverage market and now we are applying to the SME Instrument Phase 1 to carry out a Feasibility Study
Fields of science
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticultureviticulture
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesfood technology
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processes
- engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybioprocessing technologiesfermentation
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
08870 BARCELONA
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.