Sustainability and industrial production, Ecocap’s commitment to the green approach

Speaking of sustainability means to face one of the biggest challenges of manufacturing companies. If until a few years ago, sustainability has been considered simply as “nice to have”, today the commitment of companies to environmental sustainability is one of the main factors that influences the perception of the brand on the market.

Strongly active in this field, Ecocap’s works on the combination of environmental sustainability and sustainability of processing and working method. On the one hand, many are the results achieved in terms of efficiency, durability and environmental compatibility of industrial machinery for can packaging, on the other one, many steps have been taken towards the optimization of business and operational processes.

Although awareness of the benefits of implementing sustainable production solutions and products has spread among companies, implementing sustainability plans and strategies is still a difficult path to undertake and that, if not addressed with the right approach, can lead to disappointing results. For this reason, Ecocap’s has been working for years to ensure that the path towards full sustainability embraces the entire value chain of the company.

First steps have already be done at the production level, with the systematic differentiation and recycling of industrial waste, including paper, glass, metals and plastics, and the initiation of systemic actions for the progressive reduction of energy consumption and emissions from the use of natural gas and electricity. All with the primary objective of providing a product that, in turn, respects the local areas and the environment in general. From this commitment comes the Stay On technology, available for the TopSyl security seal.

TOPSYL: STOPS MOULD AND BACTERIA AND DOES NOT DISPERSE INTO THE ENVIRONMENT

TopSyl is the innovative Ecocap’s patent: a protective aluminium seal on the opening of the can that blocks mould and bacteria and can be lifted to drink without taking it off. The can seal can be recycled with the can itself, not becoming a potential waste that could easily fall to the ground.

A 100% sustainable product that, applied through Ecocap’s can packaging machines, allows beverage manufacturers not only to protect their product at the time of consumption, but also to protect the environment in which it is consumed. This is one of the many steps Ecocap’s has taken towards environmental sustainability, a central topic for the company, committed to creating and introducing cutting-edge solutions that guarantee maximum performance with an ever lower environmental impact.

STAY ON TECHNOLOGY AND PERSONALIZED COMMUNICATION: CORPORATE COMMUNICATION BECOMES GREEN

Communication is the key to remain competitive and being in the lead of consumers compared to all competitors.Thanks to the innovative patent TopSyl and its technology Stay On, Ecocap’s gives to all manufacturers of canned beverage the possibility to have packaging machines that apply heat-sealed aluminium safety seals, without the use of glues, to the advantage of hygiene, affordability and recyclability, which are also totally customizable: an additional and innovative marketing tool, a unique space for promotions and corporate communication.

Inserting an Ecocap’s can packaging machine into the company’s production line has therefore several advantages:
– stops the possible formation of mould and bacteria, offering a safe product to your target customer
– gives to the production line a green technology, which does not include the use of glue
– applies a 100% recyclable security seal with stay on technology, eliminating the danger of dispersion in the environment
– offers a new space for communication and business promotion that, thanks to TopSyl and Stay On technology, will remain clearly visible to the consumer.

Sustainability, respect for the environment and personalized corporate communication: together with TopSyl safety seal, even logo, payoff and promotions… stay on!

Inserire una macchina per il packaging delle lattine Ecocap’s nella linea di produzione aziendale ha dunque svariati vantaggi:
– elimina la possibile formazione di muffe e batteri, offrendo un prodotto sicuro al cliente target
– inserisce nella linea produttiva una tecnologia green, che non prevede uso di colle
– applica un sigillo di sicurezza 100% riciclabile con tecnologia stay on, eliminando il pericolo di dispersione nell’ambiente
– offre un nuovo spazio di comunicazione e promozione aziendale che, grazie a TopSyl e alla tecnologia Stay On, rimarrà ben visibile al consumatore.

Sostenibilità, rispetto per l’ambiente e comunicazione aziendale personalizzata: insieme al sigillo di protezione della lattina, anche logo, payoff e promozioni… stay on!

A success story that passes through anecdotes, curiosities and technical aspects. Without forgetting the contribution of Ecocap’s.

Non-resealable airtight container: this is how the can is defined.

The origin of the name comes from afar and refers to the material with which the first cans were born, precisely tin, an iron sheet on which a thin patina of tin is placed.

The production of the first cans dates back to 1957, which immediately had a moderate diffusion linked in particular to the characteristics of aluminium, malleable, light and cheap.

Beer was the first drink in a can. Made of tin, they were marketed in the 1930s in Richmond, Virginia. Previously, the attempts made had failed, for two reasons:

• in contact with the liquid, the metal released substances that altered the flavour and were dangerous to health;
• the carbon dioxide caused the volume of the contents to swell up until the can burst.

The solution was found by the Gottfried Krueger Brewery which in 1935 marketed the first beers in tin cans. The success was completed by replacing the tin with aluminium: a unique and performing material.

CANS: SHAPE AND CHARACTERISTICS

The classic aluminium can used for soft drinks is made up of two parts: the cylindrical body and the bottom are obtained through drawing, while the printed lid is applied by seaming.

Among the pluses of aluminium is the reduction in thickness, a tenth of a millimetre, as much as a sheet of paper, associated with considerable resistance: the aluminium sheet can withstand a pressure of 6 atmospheres.

Over the years, the cans have been modified several times, starting with the opening. At first, the top was airtight and a hole had to be drilled to open it.

Subsequently, in the early 1970s, the outward flap opening was introduced. With Pepsi Cola cans, the safer push-in opening appeared.

Another significant innovation dates back to 1975: the tab that remains attached to the can, more ecological and with a lower environmental impact than the previous ones.

The result of in-depth studies, the cylindrical shape of the can is a good compromise between the need to optimize space in logistics and protect ergonomics.

The tab has been designed to facilitate opening, while the decision to keep the lower part concave serves to distribute the weight without using additional material to reinforce the ends of the can.

A CONTINUOUS EVOLUTION: CANS AND DESIGN

The sleek can is the new design of the can: slimmer and more elegant, it was introduced in 2005 in France.

At the basis of the evolution is the need to keep the contents intact (33 cl) while making the layout more ergonomic and pleasant: from 11.5 cm in height it goes to 14.5 cm with a consequent narrowing of the diameter.

This new style was chosen for the cans of Coca Cola, Fanta and Sprite, probably influenced by energy drinks which are marketed in narrow and long cans.

Pepsi has also paid a lot of attention to cans. In 2015, a competition was promoted, aimed at young designers, to revitalize the external appearance of the can. The goal of the project was to be able to amaze, stand out on the market, giving value to the container and not just the content.

A ductile and malleable material, aluminium allows planners and designers to give life to new and surprising shapes.

ECOCAP’S PLAYS ITS PART IN THE HISTORY OF CANS

Ecocap’s, with its TopSyl patent, has contributed to the innovation and restyling of the style of the cans, making them more hygienic and safer at the same time.

Ecocap’s caps, made of aluminum and heat-sealed to the can without the use of glues, in fact offer brands a new space for communication and marketing, while simultaneously offering important guarantees in terms of safety, practicality and cleanliness.

Customize the packaging of your canned beverage: even large-scale plants use Ecocap’s.

A unique and worldwide patented system to protect and give a new image to canned beverage thanks to a protective aluminium cover that is also a useful communication tool: Ecocap’s represents the revolution in cans packaging sector for large-scale plants. With its patent, TopSyl, Ecocap’s also brings business communication in direct contact with customers.

Soft drinks, beers, mineral waters and many other canned drinks: for several years now, Ecocap’s and its super innovative patent TopSyl have been reliable partners of beverage companies, even large ones, that put first the pursuit of cutting edge and sustainable technologies, with a watchful eye on customers’ needs.

Founded in 2003 in Bologna, in the heart of the “packaging valley”, and part of the Cassoli Group, Ecocap’s has always stood out for its high experience in the field of packaging machines for cans, combined with continuous research and application of new technologies.

A never ending pursuit of innovation and a look beyond packaging as a mere container, making it an integral part of the added value of the company’s product, with particular attention to quality and the environment. This is the perfect description for Ecocap’s wide range of machinery, CSS648andCSS760 industrial machines for cans packaging in particular.

Usable in any large-scale plant, from breweries to other types of beverage producers, the industrial machines for cans packaging offered by Ecocap’s provide manufacturers with a unique and worldwide patented system that protect and give visibility to caned drinks, suitable for any type of can and compatible with any packaging solution, using 100% recyclable and customizable caps.

CSS648 and CSS760, in particular, are can packaging machines operating at high speed, suitable for big productions of soft drinks, beers, mineral water and other beverages. Both provided with rotary and flexible technology, they can have different layouts. Equipped with 4 warehouses, they can alternate 4 designs of TopSyl, the patent property of Ecocap’s, each one dedicated to a different warehouse.

CSS648: HIGH-PERFORMANCE CAN PACKAGING MACHINE

Customizable can packaging machine developed for large-scale production lines, CSS648 produces up to 900 cans/minute. By suppling a reliable and efficient technology, CSS648 is equipped with Hi-tech Concept with servomotor control and user friendly operator consoles. With a maximum production speed of 50,000 cph, 48 welding heads, TopSyl capacity to 20,000 and a total number of 4 warehouses, this can packaging machine for large-scale production lines is delivered as a complete solution and with on-site and remote dedicated training with scheduled maintenance.

CSS760: THE CAN PACKAGING MACHINE THAT PRODUCES UP TO 1200 CANS/MINUTE

Perfect for large-scale canned beverage manufacturers, CSS760 can packaging machine guarantees even higher speeds, with up to 1200 cans/minute production and a flexible layout. With a maximum production speed of 70,000 cph, 60 welding heads, Topsyl capacity to 20,000 and a total number of 4 warehouses for the aluminium lids, CSS760 can packaging machine can work simultaneously with Topsylof four different graphics, directly provided by Ecocap’s.

ECOCAP’S AND TOPSYL: INDUSTRIAL MACHINES FOR CANS PACKAGING

Best choice for all the companies looking for a cutting-edge, sustainable service, with watchful eye on customers’ needs, Ecocap’s has been for years alongside canned drinks producers with an efficient and effective product.

With a green technology and operating system, Ecocap’s industrial packaging machines fit perfectly into the production line, adding quality, safety and customization possibilities to all your products.

Discover all Ecocap’s machines available!

Saving the Planet: Ecocap’s contribution to sustainable and green packaging for soft drink cans

An increasingly green and environmentally friendly Europe demands a sustainable and clean production: the European Commission’s proposal for a regulation on the reduction of packaging provides to reduce packaging waste by 15% per capita for each country by 2040. By 2030, 20% of take-away beverage sales will have to be served in reusable packaging, reaching 80% by 2040. Disposable packaging will be banned in bars and restaurants, as single-use bottles in hotels. Ecocap’s and its patent TopSyl fit in an increasingly environmentally conscious European context, with a choice of eco-friendly packaging for cans perfectly suitable to all producers of soft drinks, beers, mineral waters and other canned beverages.

Due to the constant and alarming reports on the environmental situation, for several years now the world’s organizations for environmental protection have been denouncing the pollution cause by packaging, single-use plastic packaging in particular. One need only refer to the situation in our seas and rivers to see how the presence of non-biodegradable waste affects the health of the environment and activities such as fishing. It is precisely from this evidence that the European Commission needs to face the problem of reducing the impact of certain materials on the environment, setting timetables for their abolition and trying to encourage and promote the principles of the circular economy: reduce, reuse, recycle.

Despite this, packaging waste is constantly growing:  it is estimated that every European citizen generates 180 kg per year and it is estimated that 40% of the plastic and 50% of the paper used in the EU are destined for the packaging sector. These and many other reasons have led the European Commission to present a new proposal for a Regulation on “Packaging and packaging waste” aimed at eliminating unnecessary packaging by promoting reuse, deposit and recycling.

In this scope, the green choices of Ecocap’s and its patent TopSyl stand out, with the offer of eco-sustainable packaging for cans perfectly suitable to all producers of soft drinks, beers, mineral waters and other canned beverages.

SUSTAINABLE AND CUSTOMIZABLE CAN PACKAGING

The Proposal for a review of the Regulation on packaging and packaging waste by the European Parliament and the European Council, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904 and repealing Directive 94/62/EC, aims to reduce packaging waste by 15% per capita per Member State by 2040, compared to 2018. The achievement of the goal provides a gradualness ranging from 5% by 2030 to 10% by 2035.

By 2030, according to the regulation, all packaging will have to be fully recyclable while all unnecessary forms of packaging will be banned. According to the EU Commissioners, these measures will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from packaging to 43 million tonnes by 2030, compared to the 66 million expected in the absence of new measures. By agreement, water consumption would also benefit from a saving of 1.1 million cubic meters and the costs of environmental damage would be reduced by 6.4 billion euros.

Ecocap’s and TopSyl’s proposal of product, a sustainable and green packaging for cans, fits perfectly into the new guidelines, offering soft drink, beers, mineral waters and other drinks’ producers the opportunity to make a commercial breakthrough that goes in favour of environment and consumer protection, the latter being increasingly aware of how important it is to protect the planet that hosts us. Environmental sustainability has always been at the heart of Ecocap’s mission, day after day committed to fulfil the new market demand creating and introducing cutting-edge solutions that guarantee maximum performance with an ever lower environmental impact, promoting the use of sustainable packaging for cans. Ecocap’s machines and the patented TopSyl system allow beverage producers to protect and personalize their canned beverages in a green and responsible way.

Give new visibility to your cans: packaging with personalized communication for soft drinks, beers, mineral waters and other beverages

Designed to boost your marketing, designed to be integrated in your production line, TopSyl is a valuable tool at the service of corporate marketing, without interfering with the production times and processes of beverage companies, that gives your product a new visibility ready to use. Giving new visibility to your cans and differentiating yourself from your competitors becomes every day easier with a choice of packaging for cans that shows personalized communication and pays attention to the environment.

The more you show people how you’re different, the more they’ll go to choose your brand, and the more they’ll be willing to pay for it. The differentiation of communication in an increasingly fast and committed world is the most important thing a company can do to create interest and cultivate brand loyalty. We live in an era of hyper-saturation of advertising, and the consumer’s attention to invasive promotional messages is constantly decreasing. The consumer is sensitive to less aggressive and less repetitive messages.

It is from this deep attention to consumers that the idea of TopSyl derives: a revolutionary patent filed by Ecocap’s that defines a new standard in cans packaging, focused on personalized corporate communication.

PERSONALIZED COMMUNICATION: THE REVOLUTION IN CANS PACKAGING HAS THE NAME OF TOPSYL

A complete and ready-to-use system that can be applied to any type and format of drinks. TopSyl is a seal on the opening of the can that, thanks to our exclusive technology, becomes much more than a safe protection. TopSyl, whose patent belong to Ecocap’s, is the practical and functional system that protects and gives new visibility to all aluminium cans. In its simplicity, TopSyl is the ally that every company wants to spread its personalized communication in the offline market.

Consisting of a thin heat-sealed protection at the top of the can, TopSyl can be applied to any type and format of canned drink, without requiring the use of glue. Not only personalized communication on cans: in addition to the significant opportunities for communication and marketing, TopSyl also comes up with a careful look in terms of hygiene and safety.

PACKAGING FOR CANS WITH PERSONALIZED COMMUNICATION: WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE TOPSYL

Thanks to the Ecocap’s machines, available for small, medium and large productions, with high flexibility and production capacity, TopSyl is grafted on cans directly during the packaging process. Ecocap’s machines, in fact, can be positioned to complete and close already operational lines, integrating perfectly even on systems made up of several machines active in parallel, supporting the application of 75,000 TopSyl per hour. Application speed, then, and a greater boost to your business with an estimated 30% increase in sales over 12 months.

Vehicle of advertising and promotion, thanks to the application of your personalized communication directly in cans, TopSyl adds quality differentiating you from competitors.

From 241 to 725 million dollars in 2030: this will be the trend of the canned wine business, which continues to grow. In the UK, Waitrose is going to use it for small formats, eliminating the glass.

Although relatively little appreciated in Italy, canned wine is increasingly a global phenomenon. Confirmations in this sense come on several fronts. In 2021, the market segment of canned wine was estimated at 241 million dollars and by 2030 it could reach 725 million dollars, with a growth of 13% per year, according to a survey by “Straits Research”.

Even if it has not yet seduced the purists, canned wine is very popular with the younger generations, gaining new market shares. In fact, canned wine can count on: simplicity of use and consumption, environmental sustainability, better protection of the contents from light, convenience in managing the furnishings and excellent advantages for marketing and label communication.

There are already numerous companies that are investing in this direction and important international publications, such as “Wine Spectator”, are dedicating an increasing amount of space and reviews to canned wines.

SUSTAINABILITY IS THE KEY

The real turning point for the affirmation of canned wines, as well as the essential improvement in terms of quality, is linked to sustainability, albeit with the different specificities of the reference markets.

An example comes from the British large-scale retail giant WaitRose which, at the beginning of the year, declared that it will replace all smaller formats of wine (from half bottles down, with the exception of Champagne, Prosecco, Cava and Rioja). The goal is to have lighter packaging that is easier to recycle and that produces less CO2 (especially in terms of logistics). In this way up to 320 tons of packaging material will be saved and the resulting “carbon footprint” will be significantly reduced.

This is certainly a significant change in a market where private label wine is strong and made up of realities of depth. About 30 million smaller packages of wine than the 0.75-litre bottle were sold last year alone.

THE SWEDISH CASE

If this is the trend in the UK, in the Scandinavian markets, especially in Sweden, managed by the monopoly agency Systembolaget, at least for a portion of imported wine the alternative to glass will be mandatory.

Systembolaget has declared that by the end of 2023 it will cut the climate footprint of its packaging by 10%.

Many customers who buy bottled wine will have to opt for packaging, such as cardboard, PET or cans, which have a lower climate impact.

A note from the same agency the use of cardboard packaging is recommended, as well as the use of cans., because aluminium is light and presents a high level of recyclability: 75% of all aluminium that has been produced in the world is still in use.

These signs testify to the ongoing change and cannot be ignored by a country like Italy.

These changes could have significant repercussions on companies engaged in the can packaging segment, starting with Ecocap’s.

Ecocap’s and its TopSyl patent consolidate its presence in the Middle East thanks to the Coca-Cola Company and being able to guarantee versatile, hygienic and environmentally friendly.

In response to consumers increasingly aware of the need for various safe packaging solutions, Coca Cola Company has launched a protective film in Israel.

Coca Cola Company has decided to preserve the quality of the soft drink by using the innovative TopSyl, the can protection system made with eco-sustainable heat-sealed aluminum capsules, an international patent by Ecocap’s.

ECOCAP’S: HYGIENIC, AVANT-GARDE AND ECO-COMPATIBLE SOLUTIONS

Ecocap’s, constantly engaged in the development of cutting-edge solutions to preserve and protect canned drinks and final consumers, provides the beverage sector with innovative and high-performance machinery.

The TopSyl patent is from Ecocap’s, the thin heat-sealed protection on the top of the can that guarantees hygiene and safety from packaging to consumption.

TopSyl protects cans as soon as they are filled, safeguarding the product, the consumer and the producer. It does not allow the formation of humidity between the protection and the can, therefore it prevents the formation of mold and the proliferation of bacterial flora.

Ecocap’s added value is the continuous attention to environmental sustainability: the caps are ecological and 100% recyclable and the machinery guarantees high productivity with reduced energy consumption.

A LOOK AT THE DATA

A snapshot of Saudi consumer trends conducted by McKinsey & Company in March 2021 showed that 39% of the population favor safe and hygienic packaging.

This new packaging solution in fact responds to a growing concern regarding hygiene on the part of the final consumer who will ultimately benefit from it.

Hygiene, safety, recyclability, elegance and communication: these are the elements of TopSyl, the Ecocap’s patent adopted by San Bernardo for mineral water and canned soft drinks, also produced for third parties.

San Bernando, a subsidiary of the Montecristo Group, present on the mineral water and soft drink markets, has adopted the eco-sustainable TopSyl capsules, an international patent by Ecocap’s.

Guaranteeing the hygiene of the can packaging and distinguishing itself from similar offers by using all the elements of the can as marketing communication tools: these are the objectives that prompted San Bernardo to choose Topsyl, the Ecocap’s sealing system.

Another element that has strongly influenced the choice is sustainability: Topsyl is a heat-sealed aluminum disk, without the use of glues, to the advantage of hygiene, economy and total recyclability of the materials. 100% sustainable!

AT THE BASIS OF CHOICE OF TOPSYL

San Bernardo in 2021 decided to adopt the packaging of aluminum cans in the sleek format to be green friendly and to give the consumer a further choice by making available a light pack, easy to differentiate and recycle.

The choice of the can recalls a sort of visual and tactile elegance, precisely recalling a glass. Furthermore, the product with Topsyl, in the perception of the consumer, brings it closer to that class of drinks made up of sparkling wines and wines which justifies a higher cost.

To all this is added the possibility of communicating limited editions, sporting events, competitions and commercial promotions. The aluminum can with Topsyl has in fact been greatly appreciated in the Horeca channel, which San Bernardo has chosen as a privileged reference market.

THE MACHINE FOR CAN PACKAGING

The Ecocap’s packaging machine is in place at the Ormea establishment, in the province of Cuneo, where most of the production is developed.

The machine was inserted into the production line using the lease (one of the formulas provided by Ecocap’s) and binding San Bernardo only to purchase the personalized capsules.

The machine for packaging customizable beverages in cans was developed for the largest production lines of breweries and producers of soft drinks and mineral waters.

Rotary machine with 60 stations with an hourly productivity of 20,000 cans, it fits very easily at the end of the line, without distorting the production layout.

The supportive approach has always animated the initiatives and activities of the Cassoli Group and its companies, including Ecocap’s. A concrete and daily commitment, aimed at the development, growth and well-being of the surrounding community.

Specialized in the production of innovative packaging machines and holder of the TopSyl patent, the revolutionary system for sealing cans, Ecocap’s also stands out as a responsible company, which actively participates in building social sustainability in the areas in which it operates.

For Ecocap’s and for the Cassoli Group to which it belongs, the relationship with the surrounding community is a fundamental element, which take the form of activities aimed at supporting the most fragile people and supporting local voluntary associations.

This solidarity commitment has led the Group to support, through a financing project for 2023, the Emporio Solidale il Sole, the association of volunteers based in Casalecchio di Reno which distributes aid food and the provision of accompanying measures to guide and help people in difficulty.

There are 120 fragile families in the area that the non-profit association supports through the administration of food and personal and home hygiene products, but also by guaranteeing a point of listening and exchange between people.