Following successful trials with customers, East Kilbride-based Wiseman has confirmed that it is to introduce a new milk cap which is tinted rather than being a solid colour.
Following successful trials with customers, East Kilbride-based Wiseman has confirmed that it is to introduce a new milk cap which is tinted rather than being a solid colour.
The new cap cuts down the discolouration effect that traditional caps have on the recycled polymer when it comes to recycling the plastic and will ensure that the quality and quantity of recycled plastic available for re-use is higher.
This bold move follows a project carried out by the dairy in partnership with WRAP, which identified tinted caps as a major opportunity in the dairy industry to minimise the discolouration effect on recycled plastic.
Working with its packaging supplier, Closures Ltd, Wiseman developed a solution which remains coloured so the consumer can instantly recognise the type of milk they want, but has a reduced impact on the recycling process.
Billy Keane, managing director of Wiseman, said: "We are very proud to bring this innovative new cap to the market and hope this development will help us meet our target of increasing the level of recycled plastic in our bottles to 30% by 2015 (currently 10%)."
Tony Park, managing director at Closures Ltd, said: "We are delighted to have worked on this initiative with Robert Wiseman Dairies and WRAP and to support our strategic plan for long-term sustainability.
"As a market leader in dairy packaging which produces in excess of two billion caps per year, the introduction of the tinted cap will result in increasing the quality of recyclable materials available, further supporting the dairy industry."
Mervyn Jones, head of products and materials at WRAP, said: "WRAP is delighted to see progress being made so quickly, with Robert Wiseman turning the research we’ve done together into a reality.
"The other major fresh milk processors are now actively working towards the introduction of a similar tinted cap, and WRAP will continue to work closely with Dairy UK, the dairy sector’s trade association, to help see this important measure is implemented throughout the UK."
Source: Robert Wiseman Dairies