Tethered closure solutions

Tethered caps - caps that remain attached to containers during product use (including opening and closing) - will become part of our daily lives in Europe starting in 2024. 

In fact, with the aim of reducing the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, EU Directive 2019/904 requires that lids and caps on single-use plastic bottles and composite packaging with a capacity of up to three liters remain attached to containers throughout their use.

AROL (closure, feeding and cap orientation systems) is already working with packaging and bottling line manufacturers to minimize the impact of this change (although, in most cases, a simple cone replacement will suffice)

In recent months, AROL has been working with Coca-Cola, along with several closure manufacturers, in the validation process of the new GME 30.40 closure system for PET bottles for carbonated soft drinks (CSD), both at the laboratory level (at AROL's headquarters) and at the industrial level (at the CCEP production line in the Barcelona Spain plant).

The GME 30.40 closure system for PET bottles (CETIE code) is the first international standard developed specifically for tethered closures, in order to ensure their compliance with the EU UAS Directive.

The industrial trial carried out at the CCEP plant in Barcelona involved the production of more than 6 million saleable bottles in 500 ml format closed with the new 26/22 CS collar caps.