Following the success of its award-winning ThermaLite® PET jar, rigid plastic packaging specialist APPE has extended the range with the launch of 5 new round jars specifically designed for the food market as replacements for glass packaging.
ThermaLite® is a revolutionary 100% PET jar that can be hot or cold filled at temperatures up to 95°C and then pasteurised at a slightly lower temperature with most methods of pasteurisation.
“This next generation of ThermaLite® jars represents a considerable step-change in the ability to use PET jars in the hot-filling and pasteurisation of food products,” said Mike Hanratty, APPE’s Commercial and Business Development Director. “We are delighted to be the only packaging specialist in Europe to offer this technology. The new additions to the range reflect the confidence we have in the product, plus the very substantial filler, retail and consumer benefits ThermaLite® brings to the market.”
Available in 5 sizes from 212ml to 720ml, all with a 63mm neck opening, the new round jars are perfect for food applications such as cooking sauces, pasta sauces, pesto, tomato-based products, pickled vegetables, relishes, chutneys, fruit purées, jams and spreads. And they are up to 85% lighter than glass.
For fillers, the shatterproof jars can be used on glass filling lines with little or no modification required. Line downtime and batch spoilage due to breakage is virtually eliminated, noise levels in the production environment are reduced and less secondary packaging is required.
And twist-off metal caps are used with ThermaLite® providing benefits in the filling line and familiarity and convenience to consumers.
Because of the lightweight nature of the jars, they make a significant contribution to carbon footprint savings. Take the 375ml jar for example - with the weight saving over the glass equivalent and the slightly smaller footprint, around 19% more ThermaLite® jars can be transported in the logistical chain than glass counterparts. Based on a volume of 10 million jars, this equates to around 73 or 24% less trucks being used in comparison to glass.
For retailers, breakage and spoilage is also greatly reduced, increasing safety for consumers and employees. As the jars are shatterproof, the opportunity for cross-selling is increased. And for consumers, the benefits of ThermaLite® are numerous. The perfect clarity of the jar allows the contents to be clearly seen and creates excellent on-shelf impact. The jars are easy to open and reclose with the metal twist-off cap providing familiarity. Easy to grip, pour and hold, the lightweight containers are also easy to recycle from home.
This new range follows the first ThermaLite® jar, which was launched in 2013. The octagonal shape is used by G’s Fresh for a range of Marks & Spencer pickles, and has won a host of international awards including WorldStar Packaging and a Plastics Industry Award.
