Baby bottles need BPA labelling, say campaigners

Simeon Goldstein, packagingnews.co.uk, 06 May 2008

Plastic baby bottles should carry clear labelling about the materials used to make them, the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) has said in response to concerns over the effects of Bisphenol A (BPA) on babies.

 

Its call comes as a number of retailers in Canada and the US, including Wal-Mart, have committed to withdrawing bottles with BPA, and are producing BPA-free ranges.

 

BPA is a monomer used in polycarbonates and epoxy resins used, for example, in bottles and food can linings. In animal experiments, it has been shown to interfere with growth and body functions.

 

Although the actual impact on humans in uncertain, the NCT is concerned about the lack of awareness of the potential risk.

 

NCT chief executive Belinda Phipps said: "It is important that bottles, and any items that might reach a baby's mouth, are labelled in a standard and easy to understand way."

 

Bottles are less likely to leak BPA at room temperature, but repeated cleaning and warm contents could increase the possibility of a leak.

 

 

RPC reusable bottle to hit shelves across Europe

Ben Bold, packagingnews.co.uk, 30 November 2009

 

RPC Containers Llantrisant has won a contact to supply household cleaning firm Kilrock Products with reusable bottles made from 30% recycled plastic, for the latter's eco-cleaning brand Aquo.

 

Aquo is the brand name for a range of surface cleaners in trigger-spray containers that can be refilled using a water-soluble capsule and reused.

 

Kilrock said that RPC's bottles would enable it to cut production and packaging waste by 20 times, while the light weight of the unfilled bottle woul reduce the brand's carbon footprint through low transit weights.

 

Kilrock, which wanted to further reduce its CO2 footprint by sourcing packaging manufactured in the UK, selected a 750ml blow-moulded PET bottle made from 30% post-consumer recycled polymer. This proportion was deemed the best to ensure high quality performance during the life of the bottle.

 

"This bottle is designed to be reused up to 20 times and must also be well suited to the wide range of cleaning formulations for kitchen, bathroom and glass,' said Rob Hunt, RPC Llantrisant's sales manager.

 

The bottle also needed to maintain a leak-proof seal with the trigger spray after repeated use. RPC adapted one of its standard bottle pre-forms, customising the neck design.

 

Richard Davis, managing director of Kilrock, added: "RPC Llantrisant's durable and environmentally friendly bottle has played a huge part in the success of the Aquo concept.

 

"The whole concept of Aquo hinges on the durability and 'green' credentials of the trigger-head bottles – this is our USP, and RPC has been very supportive of our needs throughout the development and launch of the range."

 

Aquo is being sold at retailers including Tesco in the UK, Netto in Denmark and Mercadona in Spain; and has been lauded by the Waste and Resources Action Programme.

 

Last week RPC Group said that its RPC 2010 cost-saving plan is ahead of schedule and is planning further restructuring as it reported a return to profit in half-year results.

 

In figures published for the six months to 30 September, the group reported sales down 8% at £351.9m, while pre-tax profit stood at £11.8m compared to a £1.4m loss in the first half of its 2008 financial year.