Developed by Kirin Holdings Company, Limited as an environmentally friendly package, "Mercian's Lightweight PET Bottle for 'Oishii Antioxidant-Free Wine'" was recognized.
In recognition of this achievement, it won the Packaging Technology Award at the 46th Kinoshita Prize organized by the Japan Packaging Institute on Friday, June 3.
Here are the details.
About the "Kinoshita Prize"
The "Kinoshita Prize" is an awards program established to commemorate the many years of achievements in the packaging industry made by the late Matasaburo Kinoshita, the second president of the Japan Packaging Institute.
1. Those who achieved remarkable results in packaging research and development
2. Those who achieved remarkable results in the improvement and rationalization of packaging
3. Those who achieved remarkable results in creating new fields of packaging
With basically one award presented per category, it is known as the most prestigious award in the domestic packaging industry.
The "Packaging Technology Award" is presented to outstanding achievements chosen from outside the main category awards.
Overview of the Award-Winning Technology
In a wine market where glass bottles were the norm, Mercian introduced PET-bottled wine in 2010.
Since then, PET bottles have been widely used for domestic wine and have gained strong support for conveniences such as being "lightweight" and "hard to break."
In developing the "Lightweight PET Bottle for Mercian's 'Oishii Antioxidant-Free Wine,'" a new 720ml PET bottle was designed with an approximately 15% reduction in resin compared to conventional bottles, while striking a balance between a "Bordeaux shoulder shape" reminiscent of a wine bottle and a "sleek body shape."
Furthermore, by arranging ribs with high design quality, the shape expresses the emotional appeal of wine while maintaining an easy-to-hold form despite being lighter.
For this award, the development of the lightest PET bottle in Mercian's history—combining wine-like design and environmental harmony—was highly commended.
Bottles Are Also an Environmental Issue
In wine, where glass bottles are mainstream, many people might hesitate when it comes to PET bottles.
On the other hand, casual wines enjoyed on a daily basis are intended for high-volume consumption.
Moving forward, interest in bottles—just like "Mercian's Lightweight PET Bottle for 'Oishii Antioxidant-Free Wine'"—may increase in the wine market alongside cultivation and winemaking.
Details
Related URL
https://www.kirin.co.jp/