In anticipation of the European Union’s Single-Use Plastics Directive that is scheduled to come into effect in July 2024, the TriMas Packaging brand Affaba & Ferrari has now developed a range of caps designed to remain permanently attached to the bottle after opening and during use.
Beverage closures are among the single-use plastic items most frequently found as waste on beaches within the EU. To address this source of plastic litter and to promote the recycling of caps and closures along with their containers, the Single-Use Plastics Directive Plastic requires the caps and lids on beverage containers of up to 3 liters in volume to be ‘tethered’, i.e. permanently fastened to the container after opening and during use.
Affaba & Ferrari’s tethered caps range is robustly designed, complete with tamper-evident ring, to be opened and closed over 15 times without compromising the integrity of the cap. The caps’ compatibility with both PET and HDPE bottles means that no costly neck changes are required in the production process. As well, the new caps are suitable for aseptic filling, ensuring hygienic production. For convenience’s sake, the cap also locks into a wide-angled position when opened for easy pouring and drinking.
The caps, available in a choice of colours, are offered with two different hinge options. The first is a horizontal hinge tethered cap with a diameter of 38 mm and an opening angle of 140°. The cap is also available in a lightweight design on request. The second is a lightweight tethered cap with an injected hinge, available in diameters of 33 mm and 38 mm – and in two opening angles of either 180° (with hook) or 150° (without hook).