Document dD5Mqvj3Kqn809qBra6E0YGO0

Vinyl: A Unique Package of Packaging Benefits When it comes to bottles, no other plastic com bines as many desirable properties as vinyl. Thousands of packaged goods companies in North America, Europe and around the world can testify to vinyl's excellent shelf appeal, favorable economics and versatile physical properties. Vinyl's unique combination of properties has made it a favored choice of creative mar keters. They are using vinyl bottles for everything from barbecue sauce, peanut but ter and bottled water to mouthwash, dish washing liquid and window cleaner. Here are some of the reasons why. Design Considerations For many applications, design flexibility is the key. Vinyl provides exciting creative opportunities - transparent or opaque bottles, high-gloss or matte finishes, therimage decorating or silk-screening. Vinyl packaging is often chosen for the pre mium image conveyed by its high gloss, glass like clarity and lustrous color. Designers also prize vinyl for the endless variety of distinctive shapes that can be molded. Do you want a handle? A drip-free spout? A wide-mouthed jar? An oval or square bottle? Then you want vinyl. Physical Properties The list of vinyl's favorable physical proper ties is extensive. Vinyl's resistance to many chemicals makes it a popular choice for household cleaners and car-care products. Its superior oxygen barrier properties are one reason why it is so widely used for fragrant products. Food packagers likewise count on vinyl's oxygen barrier properties, as well as its resistance to component extraction and ultra violet light. They also like its blush resistance and minimal effect on taste and odor. In a recent test, sensory experts found that vinyl has the lowest contribution to the taste and odor of bottled water of the four leading plastic bottle compounds.1 Marketing Considerations An important part of vinyl's appeal is that it allows you to get a product into the market place fast. A new vinyl container can go from final design to finished bottle in as little as ten weeks. Vinyl has other marketing advantages, too. Its light weight and shatter-resistance can mean reduced freight costs and product losses. In addition, the thinner walls of vinyl bottles can often mean more items displayed in the same shelf space, compared with glass. Safe and Recyclable Bottles manufactured from food-grade vinyl compounds meet the requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. And once in the waste stream, vinyl packaging poses no more problems than any other type of house hold waste. It has long been known that vinyl can be safely landfilled, and a new study sponsored by the State of New York now confirms that PVC can be safely incinerated.2 * * * Vinyl is also recyclable. In fact, successful recycling programs are now underway in the U.S., as well as in Europe and Japan. Reground vinyl containers are a very desirable raw material for several sizable markets. Lower Mold Costs A key cost advantage of vinyl is its low mold cost compared with other plastics. The savings can be especially significant if you are in a fast-changing market or if your products come in a number of different shapes and sizes. Vinyl is economical in terms of compound cost and other machine costs, too. Another processing advantage is in-line coloring. You get high-quality colored bottles at significant raw material and inventory cost savings. When it comes to blow molding, there are no surprises with vinyl. Its technology and economics are well-known, resulting in more accurate quotes and few cost overruns. All in all, vinyl delivers better protection at a lower cost than competing materials. For the story of how users are taking advantage of vinyl's many favorable properties, read on. 1 C F Solin. A C Fazey, and PR McAllister. "Which Plastic Package Has the Lowest Contribution to Taste & Odor7," Proceedings of the Society of Plastics Engineers Annual Technical Conference. 1987 2 "Results of the Combustion and Emissions Research Project at the Vicon Incinerator Facility in Pittsfield, Massprepared for Dr Joseph Vtsalli. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority June 1987 CTL016584 eferred Packaging Borden's Cremora powdered coffee creamer was originally packaged in glass containers. Today, after using another plastic for several years, the company is converting to amber jars made of vinyl. "Our research has shown that people prefer plastic to glass for this product because it's lighter-weight and shatterproof," says Dick Ballard, general manager of coffee products for Borden, Inc. "We like it because it means lower freight costs and less breakage." The switch to vinyl was prompted by a desire to reduce costs without compromising quality, says Mr. Ballard. "We've set up a PVC blow molding facility right next to our plant. This gives us an assured supply of firstquality bottles at a very competitive price." "The product looks virtually as clear and bright in vinyl as it did in glass." Joe Sunseri, Vice President of Product Marketing Enhanced Profitability Several years ago, Bonne Bell Inc. decided to discontinue the use of glass for its leading product, Ten-O-Six Lotion, and began packag ing the popular lotion in PVC bottles. "We based our decision on several factors," recalls Joe Sunseri, the company's vice presi dent of product marketing. "First, we were convinced that switching to lighter-weight bottles would mean a savings in shipping costs, and it has - over $100,000 yearly. We also wanted a more durable container. The PVC bottle has virtually eliminated any returns or refused shipments due to damaged goods." Another factor was the lead time for ordering bottles, says Mr. Sunseri. "The turnaround is much faster with vinyl, which allows us to control inventories for greater profitability" CTL016585 Outshines Them All When you think of car waxes, the name that comes to mind is probably Turtle Wax. Four years ago, the company went with a vinyl bottle when it introduced Turtle Wax Minute Wax, the most successful new auto appearance product ever. More recently, Turtle Wax chose PVC again when it brought out a protectant for vinyl, rubber and leather. "The name of the product is Clear Guard," says Art Nielsen, director of packaging development, "and it's clear like water. So it was important that the package be perfectly clear, too." Appearance wasn't the only factor that dictated the decision to go with vinyl. "Clear Guard is a non-aqueous formula that is not compatible with many packaging materials," says Mr. Nielsen. "The bottle also had to be resistant to ultraviolet light." In both cases, vinyl met the requirements. "The clear vinyl bottle reinforces our slogan: 'Clear Guard really outshines them all'." Art Nielsen, Director of Packaging Development "Vinyl allows faster reactions to chang ing conditions." Arthur McCamev, Executive Vice President CTL016586 "From a clarity and cost standpoint, PVC was the most appropriate." Frank Capizzi, Vice President Squeezable Bottles Five years ago. Sunola Food Corp. followed the lead of the major brands of edible oils and converted its entire product line from glass to vinyl containers. Now Sunola is leading the way with new innovations like squeezable vinyl bottles. "We're a smaller regional brand, so we needed to offer the consumer something differ ent and something better," says Anthony Capizzi, president of Sunola. "The squeezability of our 18-ounce bottle makes the oil easier to dispense, with no dripping down the side. Our larger sizes have a no-glug vent molded into the handle that forces air into the bottle as it's poured and produces a steady product stream with no splashing," he adds. "Other plastics didn't have enough clarity or oil resistance or were too brittle for a squeezable bottle," notes Frank Capizzi, vice president. "And for the 172-gallon bottles, the ability to mold the no-glug handle was critical." For Fast-Moving Markets "When a product manager decides to make a packaging change, he'd like to see that new bottle on the shelf the next day if he could," says Arthur McCamey, executive vice presi dent of Aim Packaging, Inc., Port Clinton, Ohio, a leading blow molder. "With vinyl, you can have the product in the marketplace within ten weeks. Competing clear materials don't allow that kind of reaction." Mold alterations or corrections also can be handled a lot faster and much less expensively if you're in PVC, adds Mr. McCamey, and cost can become a significant factor, as well. "Every new set of molds can be a quarter of a million dollars with some plastic mate rials, versus maybe S30,000-540,000 in PVC," .Mr. McCamey. "That's a considerable rence when a company changes its pack aging frequently or is dealing with a number of different sizes and shapes." * "Vinvl definitely creates a premj^^ look for the promff." Tim Klewicki, Packaging Development Engineer "The clarity of the PVC bottles displays the purity of our products." Max Poper, Vice President of Packaging Development An Image of Purity Neutrogena Corp. has built a sizeable business around the purity of its toiletry and skin-care products. Most of N'eutrogena's products are clear and most of them are packaged in bottles made of vinyl. "Neutrogena's image is one of quality and purity," says Max Poper, vice president of packaging development. "We've picked up on the clarity of our original products and carried that throughout almost our entire line. The superior clarity of PVC bottles empha sizes the purity of our products." While appearance is important, adds Mr. Poper, compatibility with the product must come first. "The material has to be chemically and physically compatible with the product, and PVC is," he says. CTL016588 Bottle, Sleek Hair ^Finesse, from Helene Curtis, has been one of the best-selling hair-care lines on the market since its introduction in 1982. One key to the success of Finesse shampoos and conditioners has been the packaging. "Finesse has always been in vinyl," says Tim Klewicki, packaging development engineer at Helene Curtis. "There are two reasons. One is the high gloss that vinyl offers. It definitely creates the premium image that we want. The second reason is that unlike some other plastics, vinyl is compati ble with the Finesse products and doesn't affect the fragrance." "Our packaging makes the point -- it matches the products in quality and performance." William Navarre, Packaging Development Administrator Handled with Style There is a whole lot of equity in the Champion Spark Plug Co. name and trademark. Now Champion is counting on a uniquely shaped vinyl bottle and a memorable graphic design to give the same instant recognition to a new line of automotive maintenance products. The custom-designed, 8-ounce and 12-ounce vinyl bottles will almost certainly be the element that First captures consumer attention, believes Champion packaging development administrator William E. Navarre. Vinyl was chosen for its eye-catching sheen and because it made the hollow-handled design possible, he states. But it was also important for the material to be compatible with a range of automotive fluids. Vinyl proved to be ideal. CTL016589 W'M