ALPLA and SEA ME GmbH’s zerooo have introduced a new line of reusable PET bottles designed for cosmetic and personal care products. Starting in September, brands in Germany will begin offering products like shampoo, shower gel, and body lotion in these 300-millilitre bottles. The bottles come in clear, milky white, and brown and are compatible with all types of caps.
The collaboration aims to enhance sustainability in the cosmetics industry by providing a fully recyclable packaging option. Each bottle features a laser-engraved 2D data matrix code, known as the zerooo ID, which tracks the bottle’s contents and circulation history. This innovation supports transparency and facilitates data integration for packaging reuse.
Alexander Tränkle, Industrial Designer at ALPLA, stated, “With ‘Design for Recycling,’ we focus on optimizing recycling and extending the plastic bottle’s lifecycle. Every detail—shape, color, and material—plays a role in reducing environmental impact.”
Mirko Waraszik, Director of Supply Chain and co-founder of zerooo, highlighted the achievement of integrating serialisation directly into production. “This advancement allows us to offer groundbreaking data applications for reusable packaging,” he said.
From September, brands such as sodasan, i+m Naturkosmetik, and Speick will adopt the new bottles, with availability expanding to Austria in October. Consumers can return empty bottles at around one thousand collection points for a €0.50 deposit.
Jörg Schwärzler, Senior Technology Manager at ALPLA, noted, “The digital labelling ensures bottle quality and transparency. Combined with label information, it provides comprehensive product data.”
The reusable PET bottles are designed to be compatible with all automatic return systems and will be sorted and recycled at the end of their life cycle, contributing to a circular economy in the packaging sector.