Sidel has introduced a returnable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle designed specifically for still water applications, marking a shift in how reusable packaging is developed for this segment.
According to the company, the new Returnable PET – Still Water bottle responds to increasing regulatory pressure and consumer expectations around reuse, particularly in Europe. Jerome Neveu, Packaging and Mold Product Manager at Sidel, stated that the development focuses on optimised reusable solutions tailored to still water requirements.
Unlike existing returnable PET formats adapted from carbonated beverages, the bottle is engineered without structural constraints associated with carbonation. This allows producers to adopt a format designed directly for still water, one of the largest bottled beverage categories.
The bottle is 10% lighter than the lightest one-litre returnable carbonated water bottles currently used for still water. It is designed to withstand up to 25 washing cycles, supporting repeated use while maintaining performance and durability.
At end of life, the bottle is compatible with established PET recycling streams, enabling bottle-to-bottle recycling. The format is also compatible with Sidel’s EvoBLOW blow-moulding systems.
In terms of design, the bottle is available in cylindrical and square formats, with capacities ranging from 0.5 to 2 litres. The structure allows brand-specific shaping while maintaining a returnable format.
Surface texturing options are included to maintain visual and tactile quality over multiple reuse cycles. The design approach aligns with requirements in retail and foodservice environments, including hotels, restaurants, and catering, where appearance and durability are both considered.
The development reflects ongoing industry efforts to combine lightweighting, reuse, and recyclability within high-volume beverage packaging systems. The introduction of a purpose-built returnable PET format for still water indicates a broader shift toward segment-specific packaging design, where performance requirements are addressed at the development stage rather than through adaptation of existing formats. This trend continues.