Suntory Beverage & Food Limited (SBF) will begin this April to replace its 16 µm (micrometer) roll labels for PET bottles made in Japan, currently the thinnest, with an even thinner 12 µm label for Mineral Water Suntory Minami-Alps Tennensui (2L and 550 ml PET bottles). The new labels will successively replace the labels on other products. In addition, environmentally friendly water-based flexo printing will be introduced for roll labels for Mineral Water Suntory Aso Tennensui (2L PET bottles) in Japan.

● Thinnest Japanese label now even thinner

SBF has been developing initiatives aimed at further reducing environmental impacts since fall 2010, when the company began using an 18 µm label with 60% recycled PET resin. Then in May 2012, SBF further developed a 16 µm product label, the thinnest made in Japan, and boosted the percentage of recycled PET resin from 60% to 80%.

This latest development means production of a label that is a further 4 µm thinner. The new label will be rolled out in April 2014 for Mineral Water Suntory Tennensui. It also means 25% less CO2 emissions¹ than the current roll labels. Use of the new roll labels will be expanded to more products, starting with Iyemon and Suntory Oolong Tea, and by the end of 2014, to all products that use roll labels.

● Introduction of water-based flexo printing

In May this year, SBF will replace the existing oil-based gravure printing for the roll label for Mineral Water Suntory Aso Tennensui (2L PET bottle) with water-based flexo printing. This change will virtually stop volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and means 79% less CO2 emissions per roll label.

SBF intends to keep up its strong efforts toward environmental measures around packaging and product development, in accordance with need.

Notes

1. Percentage reduction in film manufacturing process

Background

SBF’s main achievements in environmentally friendly PET bottle and label development

Nov 2010	Development & introduction of 18 µm roll label, Japan’s thinnest2, using 60% recycled PET resin
Mar 2011	Development & introduction of the P-ecot PET bottle, which can be flattened by hand. Weight decreased to 13.5 g (550 ml PET bottle)
May 2011	Development & introduction of the RePET Bottle, using our BtoB mechanical recycling system, technology that produces PET bottles from collected PET bottles (Japan first)
Mar 2012	Development & introduction of 18 µm roll on shrink on (ROSO) label, the world’s thinnest2, using hot melt adhesive (World first)
May 2012	Development & introduction of 16 µm roll label, Japan’s thinnest2, using 80% recycled PET resin
Apr 2014	Development & introduction of 12 µm roll label, Japan’s thinnest2, using 80% recycled PET resin

Notes

2. At time of introduction

Suntory Beverage & Food website (eco) : http://www.suntory.co.jp/softdrink/eco/