Ropak Packaging has received a US patent for the Diamond Weave TechnologyTM incorporated in its latest line of rigid plastic containers. Diamond Weave Technology is designed to achieve significant source reduction, reduction in overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and lower packaging costs.
Diamond Weave is Ropak’s next generation of product and is aimed at moving forward its successful retail container market profile. The technology uses an innovative diamond lattice structure on the internal surface of the container to give it added structural strength. When coupled with polypropylene resin, significantly less plastic is required to manufacture the container, while maintaining stack strength performance. This lightweighting results in fewer GHG emissions and less energy use in manufacturing the product, and minimizes the generation of waste.
Ropak launched its Diamond Weave containers in 2008. The idea was conceived in response to customers’ needs for taking a proven, successful retail package and making it more affordable and more sustainable – while still providing the same robust performance as that of the heavier standard package.
In 2010, Ropak received an AmeriStar Award for its innovative technology.
Diamond Weave containers are offered in a variety of shapes – round, square and rectangular – and a range of sizes from 0.6 to 5.3-gallons. Tens of millions of containers have already been successfully commercialized in a variety of markets, in both food and non-food applications.
Up to 35% source reduction and up to 43% GHG emissions reduction* can be achieved. These are only two of the many sustainability claims for Diamond Weave Technology that have been third-party verified**.
“Ropak has continued its ‘Less is more’ mantra by also lightweighting its lids and plastic handles”, says Pansy Leo, Ropak’s Marketing Director. Fundamentally, the market is asking for the right package with the right performance at the least possible weight. Ropak thinks “Less is more” makes good business sense, and is also good for the environment.”
NOTES FOR EDITORS
* Based on 2010 ACC Database to harmonize US & European GHG standards, as listed in the August 2011 Revised Final Report from the American Chemistry Council, entitled: ‘Cradle-To-Gate Life Cycle Inventory of Nine Plastic Resins and Two Polyurethane Precursors’.
** Claims verified according to the Greener Package Sustainability Guidelines (http://www.greenerpackage.com/guidelines).