12 minute read
Success Stories
Monolayer construction results in savings
Topo Chico mineral water is a tradition in Mexico and has quietly gained thousands of followers in the United States. Bottled for more than 125 years in Monterrey, Nuevo León, it has become a brand that over time, has remained in people’s preference.
Topo Chico is supplied as a glass bottle and a PET bottle. For PET bottles, a wrap-around roll fed label is used, which is of transparent construction. This label was initially developed in a laminated structure of two layers of polypropylene with a total thickness of 40 microns, but in search of environmental responsibility, savings and better performance, a monolayer polypropylene film construction label was developed.
MCC developed the monolayer structure in conjunction with Envases Universales. A material of a thickness was used that could meet the standards of application speed and quality.
The challenges
The main objective was to reduce the use of materials and to have savings compared to the two-layer laminated structure, but there were also other considerations. They needed a label that could run at an application rate of up to 37,500 bottles per hour without warping, that applied correctly, and with minimal changes in operating conditions. Since it is a highly carbonated beverage, it was also a challenge to ensure that the label stays adhered during possible bottle expansion and during the transport to the point-of-sale.
The results
The result was a reduction of 6.5% in terms of material and saving of 4% in the sale price of the label compared to the bilayer laminate. In addition, it is a more sustainable solution since the yield is increased by at least 5% in terms of m2 per Kg, eliminating the lamination process in the manufacture of the label and the use of adhesives. An additional benefit in terms of quality is that the curling problems encountered with the laminated label were eliminated.
Armando García, Manager of Research and Development and ST at MCC Monterrey
Monolayer Roll-Fed
Thin Roll Fed Label Offering Multiple Benefits
Traditional roll-fed labels are a laminated construction. Monolayer construction has a number of inherent sustainability benefits. Primarily, the reduction in material consumption. This monolayer material offers the added advantage of having more labels on the roll, resulting in fewer trucks to transport material back and forth. It also allows to decorate your beverage labels with innovative solutions that are not possible with the laminated construction, for example matte/gloss and tactile embellishments.
Success Stories Ocean Spray goes one step further to achieve optimal recycling of its products
The Ocean Spray® logo is a key differentiator on store shelves – it’s an easy way for consumers to identify the brand against competitors. The Ocean Spray team wanted to maintain their strong logo presence, while making their products as recyclable as possible.
“Working with MCC print technology to deliver a more sustainable logo substrate on our bottles was a perfect match!”, commented Ocean Spray key collaborators.
MCC has been a partner to Ocean Spray for 10 years and proved to be one of the best in class when they launched a new product in large format shrink sleeves. We are always pleased to be part of their projects, but especially proud when it comes to sustainability initiatives.
Ocean Spray is committed to driving sustainability in their packaging landscape. This initiative helps them achieve their goals with a recyclable logo substrate, while also having the benefit of improving plant efficiency.
The challenge
The first trial of recyclable PSL was not a success as the sensor on the Ocean Spray equipment was unfortunately unable to pick up the new RecycLabel® substrate. MCC’s technical team was able to help with the technical assessment, determine the root cause and make adjustments to ensure a successful launch of their new label.
The results
Following the implementation of this new solution, the most important result for the brand was the improvement in the recyclability and sustainability of the entire Ocean Spray range.
Ocean Spray is very pleased with the results! They have fully converted PSL to recyclable materials across the Ocean Spray beverage network.
RecycLABEL®
Pressure Sensitive Labels – Your Solution for PET Recycling?
MCC has been commercial for several years in the beverage market with recycling compatible pressure sensitive labels for PET containers. We support them by supplying label materials that are fully compatible with the PET recycling process. This solution is recognized by the APR and EPBP.
“The MCC technical team has an extensive knowledge of label materials and equipment.
During testing and trials, MCC’s ability to quickly identify the root cause of problems and propose tangible resolutions, on site, make them a fantastic partner for this type of technical challenge.”
Jo Qiao, Packaging Engineer at Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc.
Authentic Brazilian Beer
Dating back to 1888, Brahma is the most traditional local beer brand in Brazil and one of the oldest in its market. Owned by Ambev, the brand is the main focus for the company in this region, despite the introduction of international brands such as Budweiser and Becks.
In 2020, the principal focus was the launch of the Brahma Duplo Malte. A sophisticated combination of pilsner and munich malt. Throughout the year, promotions were targeted, via virtual platforms, towards staying at home to try the new Brahma beer.
The product entered the market with just the 600ml bottle and cans so the expectation for the subsequent launch of a more contemporary, long neck bottle was high.
Sustainability goals
With sustainability as a key focus, the innovation department was searching for a way to reduce the packaging’s footprint. Inspired by another project with MCC using wash off labels, they developed their first returnable, long neck bottle.
MCC’s ThermoWash™ technology is a PSL construction, designed to detach easily in the washing process. Successfully tested in Brazil a few months earlier with the Beck’s 600ml, ThermoWash™ was the perfect solution for the launch of the returnable bottle. Whilst benefiting from the aesthetic advantages of the Pressure Sensitive Label, the ThermoWash™ construction meets the company’s sustainability targets. On a ThermoWash™ label, the inks and adhesives remain attached to the substrate throughout the entire label removal process so there is no risk of contamination.
A swift success
With just four weeks before launch, MCC had to deal internally with extreme urgency in order to match the color standards, specifications and produce a considerably high quantity on time to send by air and meet the customer’s necessities.
PSL ThermoWash™ material was quickly approved and valued by the whole marketing, innovation and brand team. The launch was a huge success, producing twice as much than planned for the first quarter.
Following the success of this project, the company will expand the use of ThermoWash™ technology to other brands and regions in South America.
“Since the beginning of this project, the MCC team was very accessible and helped us at each step throughout the flow.
Apart from the fact the label has an excellent quality, the customer service is amazing and quick. Great experience at logistics and planning.”
Gustavo Galdini, Solutions - ADL - Foreign Trade at Amev
ThermoWash™
Pressure Sensitive Labels for Returnable Bottles
ThermoWash™ labels easily detach from the bottles in the washing process consistent with traditional paper labels. This allows a new label to take advantage of the graphical benefits of pressure sensitive each and every bottle trip. This type of pressure sensitve labels (PSL) are engineered especially for returnable glass. Printed on MCC’s in-house wash off material, the single use labels easily detach from bottles in the washer.
Richard Gilliatt, Technical Director at MCC
Chang Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary by Launching An Award-Winning Special Edition
Launched in 1995, Chang Beer instantly captured the hearts and taste buds of the Thai people. Over the years, it has become one of the most famous brands in Thailand and is globally recognized as a symbol of the land of smiles.
The spirit of lamiat
The brand’s brewing philosophy reflects the Lamiat, a centuries-old Thai philosophy. It is a belief in continuous refinement to create perfection.
In keeping with the Lamiat, Chang’s anniversary beer uses 100% malt to ensure a distinctive character and a sub-zero temperature filtration to achieve perfect purity. The result is a refreshing beer that is just as smooth and easy to drink.
A specially brewed beer for a truly special celebration
Chang wanted to reflect the importance of this launch on its label and MCC was delighted to help. Using advanced rotogravure technology, we were able to realize a filigree design with metallic gold elements onto the clear, pressure sensitive label. This allows the bottle to become a real eyecatcher at the point-of-sale and strengthens the celebratory significance.
Tony White, Chairman at FINAT
FINAT is the European association for the self-adhesive label industry. Their annual competition showcases the best of self-adhesive label printing. The Chang label was awarded the Best in Category for Gravure Printed Labels, 2020.
Wash Off technology
Despite being aesthetically pleasing, the Chang labels are also functionally superior. Using MCC’s ThermoWash™ Technology, the Pressure Sensitive labels easily detach from bottles in the washer. This process is consistent with traditional paper labels and allows for brand owners to take advantage of sustainable, returnable bottles.
MCC is proud of being awarded with this project as well as a FINAT accolade. We raise our glasses and say: “Cheers to perfection, Cheers to Chang Beer and Happy 25th Anniversary”
Recycled Content
As well as initiatives to ensure that labels allow for clean recycling of non-contaminated containers MCC is working on a range of projects that integrate post-consumer recycled content into the labels themselves.
Recycled (PCR) cut & stack paper labels
The raw material is 100% post-consumer wastepaper, regionally collected and sorted. The fibre pulp is being produced while cleaning, sorting, deinking and bleaching magazine and newspaper waste. The paper CO2 footprint is around 20% less, compared to standard papers, produced from virgin wood fibres. As well as reusing the pulp within the supply chain we are reducing the need for virgin paper manufacturing.
Filmic liners with recycled content
MCC is working with supply chain partners to implement a self-adhesive label construction whereby the liner material includes 30% PCR. By using liner with 30% of content from postconsumer recyclate, we are both recycling used PET already within the supply chain and reducing the use of virgin PET.
PET Face stock with PCR content
A filmic face stock with up to 70% PCR PET content. The label face stock is PET and so can be considered as part of a mass balance approach with optimized bottle PET recycling achieved with RecycLABEL.
100% Natural. 100% Sustainable.
Quézac is a French sparkling mineral water originating in the Cévennes-Causses region, owned by the Ogeu family group. The bottling plant is located near a small village which bestowed its name, Quézac in the middle of Cévennes National Park.
100% natural
Quézac mineral water is drawn from a depth of almost 110 metres, from the preserved heart of the rocks of the Lozère. The purity of the water carries through into the product’s branding and philosophy to preserve the nature that gives it life.
With this in mind, Ogeu challenged MCC to come up with a more sustainable labeling solution than the existing paper labels, with a story that could be communicated behind it.
100% recycled
MCC proposed to print the labels on a 100% postconsumer recycled paper. The challenge was that the paper was only tested in very small scale beforehand, coupled with Ogeu’s time constraints on this new product launch.
MCC met the challenge using 100% recycled wet strength paper with 6 colors and no varnish. After a successful launch, all paper labels have now been switched to the recycled paper.
The components of Quézac mineral water bottles and their corks are 100% recyclable. Our labels, printed with vegetable inks on recycled paper, also contribute to a virtuous circle for the preservation of the environment.
Success Stories Brand’s Efforts Reflect Consumer Values
Sustainable packaging for considerate consumers
Patagonia Cerveza incorporates post-consumer content in packaging, reflecting its consumers’ interest in sustainability.
Environmentally friendly
A beer’s appeal can go beyond a refreshing taste and crisp finish. Some consumers appreciate a brand that cares about sustainability and has an environmentally-conscious approach to delivering its product. Patagonia Cerveza demonstrates its role as a good steward for the environment by caring about the materials that go into its packaging. Fortunate US beer drinkers in select parts of the Pacific Northwest, Southeast and other states across the Rocky Mountains can discover a new Premium Pilsner by Cerveza Patagonia. This new brand is a member of the Anheuser-Busch family and is inspired by the mountainous regions of Patagonia, South America.
Sustainable values
The brand appeals to environmentally-conscious drinkers with two popular campaigns. The first, by partnering with the National Forest Foundation (NFF), the brand generates funds to replant trees and promises to plant one tree for each case sold in 2019. The second reduces the packaging’s ecological footprint by using more postconsumer recycled content.
Recycled labels
The second initiative advances this tree-friendly brand’s sustainability and demonstrates how it is trying to clean up its entire supply chain. The label, which is the brand’s main identification, is printed on post-consumer waste material. This material consists of at least 30% post-consumer waste yet still performs like virgin label stock, allowing for vibrant label colors and graphics.
This eco-friendly label did require some adjustments to label application and comes at a higher price than standard labels, but AnheuserBusch feels strongly that these accommodations are necessary to carry on being a good citizen of the environment. MCC continues to partner with customers to find solutions that help them reach their sustainability goals.
“When we challenged our supplier base for sustainable packaging innovations, MCC label stepped up right away with solutions to incorporate postconsumer recycled content into labels. The MCC team partnered with us from concept to launch on a tight timeline, ensuring the product not only supported our sustainability and quality goals for a premium brand, but could also seamlessly run on packaging lines.”
Rob Clark, Sr. Director, Innovation at Anheuser-Busch
