Nampak Plastics Scoops Global Packaging Accolade

Milton Keynes-based Nampak Plastics, one of the UK’s leading packaging companies, has scooped a major international accolade for its next-generation plastic milk bottle, Infini.

Judges for the WorldStar Awards, which recognise the best-of-the-best packaging achievements from across the globe, identified Infini as one of the most significant new products in its beverages category from the last 12 months.

Twenty five judges looked at over 300 entries from 33 different countries in order to find the winners, all of whom will receive their trophies at a gala event in Sydney, Australia, in May 2013.

Eric Collins, managing director of Nampak Plastics, said: “We’re delighted that, after several honours on a national level, the Infini bottle has now been recognised on a global scale.

“Infini is the result of a four-year journey that our colleagues undertook in order to reduce the weight and carbon footprint of the standard milk bottle, but without compromising on its strength. Quite simply, Infini is ‘better by design’ and is playing an important role in helping the British dairy industry to meet its environmental targets.” 

The Infini bottle contains 15% recycled High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and reduces the weight of the standard milk bottle by 25% (depending on size) – factors which mean savings of 16,000 tonnes of material and 34,000 tonnes of carbon each year.

However, an innovative design with the handle positioned at the corner of the bottle, means that it is still robust and fit-for-purpose.

The WorldStar Award caps a great 12 months for Infini, after it triumphed at the Dairy Innovation Awards (Best Dairy Packaging Innovation) in April 2012, and at the Chartered Institute of Waste Management’s Environmental Excellence Awards in November 2012 (Sustainable Product Development of the Year).

The product also claimed the Starpack Awards title for Environment & Sustainability in July 2012, which made it eligible for consideration in the WorldStar Awards.

More than 60 million Infini bottles have been produced already, stocked in retailers including Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons. And, in the most recent development, Nampak has signed a deal with Pact Group, to license Infini in Australia and New Zealand. Further international opportunities are also being explored.

Find out more on the Infini bottle at www.infinibottle.com