Following a series of successful trials, Müller Milk & Ingredients has started switching its coloured milk bottle caps to clear, with the aim of converting its whole range by summer 2023.
In a phased approach, which started in November and will complete in December, the dairy company is currently converting all green semi-skimmed milk, its most popular, into clear caps.
While Müller’s milk bottles, which are manufactured in-house, are fully recyclable and made of at least 30% recycled material (rHDPE), the coloured caps cannot currently be recycled back into food grade packaging.
The introduction of clear caps will enable the retention of the material for reuse within the food sector.
With demand for rHDPE outstripping supply, the move to a ‘closed loop system’ is expected to increase the availability on the market by 1,560 tonnes per annum, further reducing requirements for virgin plastic.
All other coloured caps will be converted by summer 2023, and Müller is continuing to investigate ways to add recycled content into the caps.
