Local companies eye triple-layer milk bottles

A triple-layer high density polyethylene (HDPE) bottle introduced in New Zealand by Fonterra to cut milk spoilage caused by light exposure is attracting strong interest in the Australian market, one of the bottle's co-developers says.

Group technology manager of the Inpact Innovation Centre of Pact Group, Chris Redfern, says the bottles, which went on sale in supermarkets in New Zealand yesterday, were now being shown to local companies with an eye to their possible introduction into the Australian milk market.

Pact Group, a local manufacturer of rigid plastic and metal packaging, collaborated with its New Zealand sunsidiary Alto Packaging to produce the triple-layer light barrier bottles.

The bottles are being used to market by Fonterra's Anchor brand milk in New Zealand. Fonterra says the triple layer plastic containers block light from spoiling the milk while in transport, thus reducing milk spoilage and maintaining the content's taste.

Redfern said while Fonterra had exclusive rights for the New Zealand market, the door was open for Australian companies to adopt them in the local market.

“I think all companies in the milk market in Australia will be looking at it,” he told PKN.

Pact Group has worked with NZ's Alto for a number of years on the project on behalf of Fonterra. Alto engaged in initial feasibility studies on the bottle design, while Pact Group was called in to help tweak production lines and tooling to produce the bottles.