Plastic bottles are one of the most used packagings by companies in all activities. From cosmetics to agrochemicals, plastic bottles are the flagship packaging not only to store and transport products more efficiently, but also to adapt to the formats and quantities most demanded by consumers in a more practical way.

But when we talk about plastic bottles, we are not only talking about the typical 1L bottles that are so consumed in our daily lives, but also the different formats that each sector demands.  The needs of each industry vary. Some industries may look for large plastic packaging to keep large volumes of liquid products, others may look for practical and attractive designs for daily use.

But trends in plastic bottles are changing, but there is one thing that most companies have in common in their demand for plastic bottles, it is certainly the need to seek sustainable solutions.

Trends in plastic containers

Regardless of which industry uses them, one of the main trends in plastic bottles is the pursuit of greater efficiency. In recent years, significant investments have been made in R&D&I and machinery to get smaller and lighter plastic packaging at a lower cost.

But in addition to reducing costs in the manufacture and transport of plastic containers, it is also sought to reduce the amount of resources used for their manufacture and reuse of discarded materials, thus favoring a circular economy with fewer negative effects on the environment. It is in this context that a new type of eco-efficient plastic packaging, designed to meet these objectives, has been conceived.

The need to look for more sustainable formats of plastic bottles has resulted in greater research and development of new manufacturing processes to produce recyclable packaging. Some processes such as co-extrusion have been modified, and new technologies have emerged, such as plasma fluorination, to make recyclable plastic bottles that, having to be more resistant to aggressive products, combined a series of materials that, until now, hindered their recyclability.

With these new technologies, it is possible to get more efficient, recyclable, and therefore environmentally friendly plastic containers. Processes also try to reduce costs and have fewer negative effects on nature.

This is also an important part of each company's brand image. And it is that not only plastic bottles with formats adapted to the functionalities they need or attractive designs are no longer sought, but also that the materials used in both plastic packaging and manufacturing processes are eco-efficient and environmentally friendly.

Plastic bottle formats that our customers prefer according to their sector

Plastic bottles have a very clear function, and it is to preserve and contain the product inside in perfect conditions, maintaining all its properties. These plastic containers  must be designed according to their effectiveness and behaviour in front of the product. Their durability should be optimized and their subsequent reuse or recycling encouraged.

But in addition to these requirements, more and more companies are seeking greater sustainability in their packaging, and this not only refers to 100% recyclable plastic bottles, but also to compostable and biodegradable packaging, among others, that do not harm the environment.

In relation to formats, trends vary depending on the sector. The industrial sectors demand plastic bottle with higher capacities: 1,5 l, 10 and 20 liters. These plastic containers are used for chemicals intended for industry and even for the agrochemical sector.

For industrial activities, companies prioritize profitability when storing and transporting products, therefore large capacities of plastic packaging are the main trend when it comes to plastic bottles. However, in other activities whose products are addressed to retail, priority is focused on issues such as usability, image, design,  branding, etc.

This is where the packaging demanded starts to become smaller. In the dermoesthetic and cosmetic sector, for example, plastic bottles usually range capacities from 200 ml to 1L, even smaller.

This is because products intended for a final consumer tend to have smaller plastic packaging, which facilitates its usability, that is more practical and, ultimately, more adapted to the daily use of people of all ages. These smaller capacity containers are especially in demand lately for products such as pocket hydroalcoholic gels or hotel amenities, for instance. Even though there are some manufacturers that are shifting to higher volume plastic containers to back up sustainability and to make profit of lower transport costs.

However, these latter sectors are showing a new trend, increasing packaging capacities to decrease the amount of material used and CO2 emissions generated by product transport. These new formats allow adapting the plastic bottles to the convenience of users, getting a greater amount of product for each purchase they make.

At Alcion Packaging Solutions we have the latest technologies and manufacturing processes. We always keep up to date on the latest trends to manufacture the plastic bottles that best meet all the targets of each of the sectors and customers. Contact us and we will look for the best option for your product.