Amcor has developed a new lightweight tethered cap for Wattwiller, a premium mineral water brand sold in France, following a year-long collaboration with Wattwiller’s owner, Spadel. The customised closure has been designed to reduce material use while improving usability, and is produced at Amcor’s Frankenthal facility in Germany.
Manufactured from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), the cap is recyclable alongside PET bottles and is lighter than Wattwiller’s previous closure. As part of the redesign, Amcor also moved to a smaller 26 mm bottle neck, contributing to additional weight reduction. The new cap supports Spadel’s broader efforts to lower the environmental impact of its packaging.
Wattwiller is a natural mineral water characterised by zero nitrates and low sodium content. In 2020, the brand became the first French small or medium-sized enterprise in the water sector to achieve carbon neutrality across the full lifecycle of its products, including production, packaging, bottling and distribution.
“Compared with the previous solution, Amcor’s closure is lighter and better aligned with Spadel’s sustainability goals,” said Sarah de la Mare, Product Line Director at Amcor. “The project leveraged our strengths in R&D, design and lightweighting.”
Beyond weight reduction, the cap was designed with inclusivity in mind. Its flower-shaped form combines smooth and ribbed surfaces to improve grip and ease of opening, addressing the needs of consumers with limited dexterity, including elderly users and people with disabilities. The design aims to offer improved handling compared with standard still water closures.
“Collaboration was central to this project,” de la Mare added. “Working closely with Spadel allowed us to identify challenges and demonstrate that tethered caps can vary in performance and usability.”
Julian Schmitt, Marketing Manager at Spadel, said the project aligned with the brand’s objectives. “Their expertise has helped deliver a closure that supports reduced environmental impact and accessible design,” he said.