Increasing consumer convenience, reducing waste, and improving packaging recyclability.
Aptar Food + Beverage has announced Slide, a new solution for the dispensing closure market. This new offering does not require the application of a foil liner for shelf-stable food products, which is the current market norm.
“We conducted multiple consumer studies while developing this solution, and in almost every case, we heard that removing the liner is a point of frustration today,” stated Matt Schalewski, senior global business development manager at Aptar. “Slide enables consumers to access their product with one opening gesture, delivering a convenient and memorable packaging experience while still protecting product shelf life and reducing the potential for product tampering.”
Non-detachable tamper evidence system
To eliminate the need for a foil liner, Aptar Food + Beverage developed a patented non-detachable tamper evidence system which is built into the closure. Upon first opening the package, the tamper evidence band visually slides from the “closed” to the “open” position and locks into the lid of the closure. This is a benefit to both brands and consumers as this breakthrough feature provides product safety by informing consumers whether the package has been previously opened. Additionally, Slide provides a convenient packaging experience as consumers no longer need to unscrew the closure, remove and dispose the liner, and put the closure back onto the bottle before dispensing the product. With Slide, all these steps are replaced by one opening gesture.
Recyclability is key
In addition to ensuring consumer safety and convenience, brand owners are also seeking packaging alternatives that align and enable them to deliver on their sustainability commitments. Since the foil liner is not considered to be recyclable today, removing this component reduces the amount of packaging waste. Aptar’s lifecycle analysis comparing Slide to a closure with a foil liner showed that liner-free packaging reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 16%. This innovative dispensing closure also uses Aptar’s new SimpliCycle, a fully recyclable flow control valve technology that has been approved by leading organisations such as the Association for Plastic Recyclers (APR) in the United States, and RecyClass in Europe as being fully recyclable.
Slide has been tested for use on shelf-stable products. This innovative solution also comes in industry standard dimensions and bottle neck finishes.
Slide will be featured in Aptar’s Booth N-4740 at Pack Expo, taking place in Chicago, 23-26 Oct. Slide was recognised with AmeriStar’s 2022 award for sustainable packaging innovation.
“For products such as condiments, spreads, and honey, Slide is well-positioned to enable the next closure revolution that is better for both consumers and the environment and in line with the needs of brands. Slide is one more example of Aptar’s Food + Beverage expertise in providing sustainable and innovative solutions to address the ever-changing needs of the markets we proudly serve,” Schalewski concluded.
