Kabbalah Vodka x Christian Infants

A short time ago the company “EZ Protocols” announced a start-up of vodka brand that is called “Kabbalah vodka – with Christian infants” – the newest quality benchmark on the super premium segment of the Russian market. The vodka is expected to have a distinguished wheat flavor. Special water, enriched in silver, gold and platinum ions along with neat and stylish design will bring anyone back to the best traditions of a ritual table. As a present, every bottle has a unique handmade infant inside, which is made of fortified glass.

In its first day of launch KABALAH vodka set a record selling 13,000 5L cases of Vodka. The 'Christain Infants' have also very quickly become collectors items. To keep them exclusive each design does not see more than 3 production runs.

What is the connection between this Vodka and the Kabbalah? I have not idea, but the type for the logo is set to Kabbalh Sefirot and the back of the bottle features some text excerpts from the Kabbalah.

Vegetable Based PET by Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola has committed themselves to using 30% vegetable based PET preforms for their plastic bottle production. Is this a log term environmental solution that other beverage packaging companies can adopt? What is the cost benefit? Check out the full scoop below.

Coca-Cola Co yesterday announced the selective global roll-out of its new PET bottle made from up to 30 per cent plant materials such as sugar and molasses.

The drinks giant said its PlantBottle containers were beginning to hit retail shelves across the world, with a planned production target of two billion by the end of next year.

Hailing the move as a “major step along our sustainable packaging journey”, chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent said Coke was the first to bring to market a recyclable PET plastic bottle made partially from plants.

Variable plant content

But company said the level of plant material in the bottle differs from country to country.

“While the bio-based component can account for up to 30 percent of the resulting PET plastic in PlantBottle packaging, the percentage varies for bottles that also contain recycled PET,” said a Coke statement.

In Denmark, the bottle also has recycled content, meaning its combined plant-based and recycled elements make up 65 per cent of the material; 50 percent coming from recycled material and 15 percent from plant-based material. In the US and Canada, some 30 percent of the content in the PET plastic comes from plants.

The bottle is currently available in Denmark in 500ml and 2 litre sizes, with a December launch earmarked for Western Canada for Coca-Cola, Sprite Fresca and Dasani, as well as in Vancouver for next year’s Winter Olympic games. The PlantBottle will also be available in some parts of the western US from January 2010. Future launches next year are being planned in other markets, including Brazil, Japan and Mexico and China, said the company.

Sugar and Molasses

The bottle is currently made by turning sugar and molasses into a component in PET plastic. The company said its ultimate goal was to use non-food, plant-based waste, such as wood chips or wheat stalks, to produce recyclable PET plastic bottles. The container is 100 per cent recyclable and initial research has indicated it had a smaller carbon footprint than conventional PET bottles, said the company.

Kate Krebs, director of sustainable resources for the climate group, said: "While Coca-Cola is just beginning to bring its plant-based PET plastic into the mix, this is a revolutionary solution that has the potential for long-term, meaningful benefits."

Source: Beverage Daily

Coca-Cola Going Green?

Check out the new concept packaging for canned Coca-Cola. Developed by Ryan Yoon and Harc Lee, this plain metal finish promises to reduce production cost for Coca-Cola and also the cost of recycling. I cant imagine that too many brands could follow suit, but this is a small step in the right direction.

“A convex logo substitutes colorfully sprayed can. Naked can help to reduce air and water pollution occurred in its coloring process. It also reduces energy and effort to separate toxic color paint from aluminum in recycling process. Huge amount of energy and paint required to manufacture colored cans will be saved. Instead of toxic paint, manufacturers process aluminum with a pressing machine that indicates brand identity on surface.”

SIE43 PET Bottle Chair by Pawel Grunert

One of the most obvious drawbacks of using PET bottles is the hornedous toll the waste takes on the environment. While this innovative furniture design by Pawel Grunert is thought provoking, it does not serve any practical function. Constructed from a steel frame sruture and fitted with numerous bottles that can easily be changed out when damaged, the design is visually appealing but I doubt it would be too comfortable to sit on. It was featured at the Ecotrans Pop Exhibition in April 2009.

NEURO DRINKS

Here is a another new product to hit the enhanced beverage shelves. Neuro Drinks have launched 7 varieties of flavored and vitimin enhanced waters that aim to boost energy, increace alertness, improve quality of sleep, and even quelch hunger pangs.

The disign of the bottle although being heralded by some as innovative design is actualy almost a coarmon copy of the Watson's water avaialabel in Hong Kong and China. The label design and overall family concept for the brand looks pretty cool though, and this is just another example of how many directions beverage packagers can move in.

Out of the 7 varieties of beverage offered by Neuro Drinks, the one that most tweaks my interest is NEUROGASM, designed to increace sexual desire...

Source: Neuro Drinks

Q Tonic - A Superior Tonic Water

Check out the new packaging for Q tonic water, targeting the more sophisticated pallets of gin drinkers. If you are going to drink premium liquor then why dilute with lesser quality mixers. I would like to see this concept spread accross the board with innovaative mixers being manufactured for the whole spread of premium alchohols from Patron Taquila to Grey Goose Vodka and more. Cheers!

Source: Lovely Package

1/2 Project

The 1/2 (half) Project developed by Kim and Jiwom Park is designed to offer people buying bottled beverages to purchase half the quantity they want at full price, with half the money going to a designated charity. The design would tentativly allow varoius brands of beverage manufacturers to tie in and sponsor thier own charities. While the concept of using a social adenda to boost sales or draw attention your brand is a good one, the cost of the new packaging should logically be half of the normal packaging.

Unfortunatly, as most people in the industry will tell you, this design will be more costly. Firstly a new preform mould would need to be developed for a bottle that would cost almost the same to manufacture as a normal PCO one. You might save a few grams on the weight of PET material in the preform. A normal PCO twist on cap would not be suitable for this design so a new flip top cap would need to be developed. This would surly require more material than a normal cap as well. More material equals more expensive.

It would just be a whole lot easier to sell a 500 ml bottle for the price of a 1L bottle and donate the difference to charity. I doubt too many people would reach for a smaller bottle though. I like giving to a cause, but this design in my opinion is totally off the board.

Source: Yanko Design