TPE - The Small but Important Piece in Bottle Caps

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Before or after enjoying a bottle of cola, do you have a habit of taking a look at the bottle caps?  Owing to Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSD) companies’ marketing programs, many people have used to having a look at the bottle caps to see if there is a message from the beverage companies. The messages can be rewarded codes/points or ‘buy one get a free one’ if we are lucky enough. In addition to the messages printed in bottle caps, have you ever noticed the small and translucent piece in the bottle lid? Yes! It is made of our product - Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE).



Many people love the fizz sound and the feeling of bubbles bursting in their mouths of Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSD). These bubbles happen because of carbonation. Manufacturers maintain pressure in the bottles and prevent CO₂ from escaping from the bottles. So, what keeps the beverages robust and fresh from factory to customers’ hands? TPE plays an instrumental role in bottle caps.

With excellent compression set properties, TPE CSD liners provide great sealing and gas retention performance. They help make the bottles become airtight and reduce risk of taste and odor issues for stable shelf life. PHOENIX translucent Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs) have great temperature endurance that are suitable for compression machines, especially cold filling processes. They can adhere to PP, HIPS, HDPE caps. Also, PHOENIX TPEs for CSD liners are easy to color for versatile and customized brand promotions. Moreover, PHOENIX TPEs for CSD liners are FDA compliant food grade materials that can directly contact foods. All the characteristics of TPEs can meet customers’ requirements of CSD liner material.

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TPE - ideal material for sustainable packaging

Circular economy has become an important topic and task for the plastic and rubber industry in recent years. Many experts and businesses work hard to switch our economy from linear economy to circular economy. Leading beverage companies - such as members of the American Beverage Association (ABA) - had signed up to the Global Commitment, which was led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, aiming to reduce plastic waste on the planet.

Circular economy focuses on developing products of better design, recycling, and reuse for plastic solutions. It is about designing and manufacturing products for easier reuse and recycling at the early stage of the plastic circular system. In a linear economy, plastic products are made and thrown away after single use. In a circular economy, plastics are considered as valuable materials that can stay in the loop, and not end up in the river, the lake, and the ocean.

TPE is an ideal material for sustainable plastic packaging. It is a one hundred percent recyclable and eco-friendly material. It doesn’t contain hazardous substances that will pollute the environment, such as PAHs and phthalates. Moreover, it is energy-saving that no vulcanization is needed during the process. With decades of experience in TPE compound, research and formulation, Phon Tech is ready to be the supplier of eco-friendly material in the global supply chain. By working together, we can help customers to design sustainable products and accelerate the transition to a circular economy for plastics.

Bottle caps are small that can be lost during the process of recycling. Don't forget to put the cap back on when you throw your bottle away. They can be turned into something new.

Explore PHOENIX Translucent TPEs for CSD caps