Gentlebrand designs lightweight water bottle for premium applications

Gentlebrand has introduced its Minera bottle for still water, developed using the company’s SmartWeighting approach. The Italian packaging design agency says its approach reveals the possibility of lightweighting without compromising performance, esthetics, or brand positioning. 

The SmartWeighting design and development approach aims to optimize the distribution and expression of material within a bottle structure, rather than simply reducing material weight. 

The agency says it combines structural engineering with design language to enable lighter packaging to maintain functional reliability and a premium on-shelf presence. 

Gentlebrand developed the still water bottle in collaboration with Competek, an engineering partner specializing in beverage packaging, which implemented the technical and industrial development of the project.

The packaging is produced using fully BioPET supplied by UPM Biochemicals, while the label uses UPM Raflatac Vanish PCR film. Gentlebrand says the bottles’ “no label look” enhances visual purity and perceived premium quality, while supporting material reduction and recyclability.

“Minera SmartWeighting allowed us to demonstrate that reducing weight does not have to mean making compromises,” comments Andrea Rizzardi, director at Gentlebrand. 

“SmartWeighting focuses on how material is used, not simply how much, ensuring structural reliability, visual quality, and brand positioning are preserved.”

Lightweight perceptions 

Gentlebrand developed its SmartWeighting approach in response to a common industry challenge: the association of lightweight bottles with low-cost products. The company argues that this perception has made brands reluctant to adopt lightweight options.

SmartWeighting sets out to address this challenge by balancing weight optimization with structure and visual design, allowing lighter bottles to retain a refined look and feel.

The objective of the Minera SmartWeighting water bottle was to achieve an optimal container weight while guaranteeing strength and stability throughout the production process, from blowing and filling through to transport and storage.

The company says it meets performance requirements through a design that alternates clean, minimalist areas with technical and functional elements that “discreetly” reinforce the structure. 

“Further optimization was applied to the neck finish, reducing excess material while improving handling and user experience. Development was supported through collaboration with international partners across the beverage supply chain to ensure industrial compatibility,” Gentlebrand says.

For beverage producers, SmartWeighting is said to deliver benefits across the supply chain, including reduced PET usage and improved logistics efficiency. 

Looking ahead, Gentlebrand views its SmartWeighting approach as representative of the direction beverage packaging design continues, as companies seek environmentally- and economically-conscious solutions, aligned with brand identities.