Fresh Milk in Amcor's Clear PCR/PET Bottles is a First in Argentina

Aann Arbor, Mich., March 2, 2021 – Amcor has broken new ground in the Argentine dairy market developing the first fresh milk bottle made of transparent post-consumer recycled (PCR) polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin. The custom-designed 1-L container for leading dairy maker Mastellone Hnos, Buenos Aires, supports the positioning of the La Serenísima Original milk brand as a natural product while also delivering optimum shelf life and increased sustainability benefits.

Latin American dairy companies are increasingly using clear PET bottles to showcase freshness and premium quality. The cold-fill bottle contains 20% PCR content and is designed to drive consumers from aseptic packages to the chilled section of the grocery store. The breakthrough bottle follows the October 2019 launch of Mastellone’s shelf-stable, ultra-high temperature (UHT) white milk in aseptic, white-colored PET bottles also from Amcor.

“In a market that has remained stagnant for several years, we’ve broken the rules by developing an entirely new format offering for fresh milk,” said Martin Darmandrail, Amcor’s Specialty Containers Director (Argentina). “We’ve shaken things up with a unique fresh milk package with the durability, freshness, performance, and sustainability benefits of PET.”

The container includes a 38mm finish and a HDPE screw cap from Bericap North America (a joint venture between Amcor and the Bericap Group). A key technical challenge was limiting light exposure and preventing damage to the product. To preserve the contents, a special barrier was developed to help extend shelf life.

“Mastellone wanted to align its grass-fed sourced, ultra-pasteurized fresh milk product with Amcor’s clear plastic bottle. Amcor responded to the challenge with a distinctive transparent solution combined with an effective barrier to preserve our premium product,” said Gaston Dominguez, Manager, R&D Packaging for Mastellone. “Along with meeting key functional requirements, we were also able to reduce our impact on the environment.”

PET, which has rapidly become the world’s preferred packaging material, is lightweight, shatterproof, reclosable, resealable, reusable and infinitely recyclable*. In addition, PET bottles often have the lowest carbon footprint and their production results in up to 70% less greenhouse gas emissions than other packaging materials, according to Amcor’s Asset Lifecycle Analysis. In the midst of today’s hygiene concerns, capped and sealed PET bottles keep beverages protected from pathogens like viruses and bacteria. They are also sealed to combat contamination and re-sealable for ongoing protection.

In Argentina, the new fresh milk product will be available in select metropolitan areas with broader distribution later.

About Mastellone                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Mastellone Hnos S.A., based in Buenos Aires, is a leading supplier in the food processing sector and specializes in dairy products. It was founded in 1929 by the Mastellone family. The company began with the production of only mozzarella and ricotta. Currently, the company has a variety of products which include Ultra-pasteurized, UHT and powder milk, ricotta, milk caramel, different kinds of cheese, among others sold with the brand “La Serenísima.” The total production is divided among five main industrial plants along Buenos Aires, San Luis and Córdoba provinces, situated in General Rodriguez, Trenque Lauquen, Leubucó, Canals and Villa Mercedes. For more information, visit www.mastellone.com.ar

About Amcor

Amcor is a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home- and personal-care, and other products. Amcor works with leading companies around the world to protect their products and the people who rely on them, differentiate brands, and improve supply chains through a range of flexible and rigid packaging, specialty cartons, closures, and services. The company is focused on making packaging that is increasingly light-weighted, recyclable and reusable, and made using an increasing amount of recycled content. Around 47,000 Amcor people generate US$12.5 billion in sales from operations that span about 230 locations in 40-plus countries.  NYSE: AMCR; ASX: AMC  

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