What do winemakers, brewers and chemists sell in bottles: trends in the development of packaging

The first association, which suggests itself in response to a question about what is sold in bottles, is almost the same for everyone - wine.

Although Russians often mention vodka and beer often, presenting a glass transparent bottle. Later I remember a milk bottle, a one and a half liter PET with lemonade, household chemicals in plastic, sunflower oil and a solvent.

Historical digression

For the storage and transportation of oils and wines, representatives of ancient civilizations also used animal skins, hollowed out wooden containers, and ceramic vessels. The prototype of the modern bottle was, of course, ancient Egyptian amphorae: narrow vertical vessels for carrying and storing both wine and beer, and oils.

Glass containers for storing liquids began to be used more than three thousand years ago (1700 BC). Glass containers were made from quartz paste. The process was complex, time-consuming and time-consuming. And only when the glass blowing pipe was invented (1-2 century BC), the process became simpler. The Romans mastered the production of glass products, improving the shape and capacity of vessels.

After the 13th century, the products of Venetian masters stepped outside the country and were in demand wherever there was a need to store and transport liquids, although they were fragile enough.

In the 17th century, the British patented a stove on a coal for baking. Glass products have become more durable, in the furnace, it became possible to burn dark bottles. Winemakers immediately appreciated this and, accordingly, immediately patented the first wine bottle (1661, England).

Why glass?

Advantages of glass before clay are obvious: greater wear resistance, less brittle, almost full transparency. High transportability, provided that the manufacturing process is cheap (the machine for the production of glass containers was patented in 1901) became the dominant in the distribution of glass containers. Hygiene, simplicity of washing, any density and color - these advantages were added to the basic ones, and glass containers became irreplaceable.

What do winemakers sell in the glass bottles today?

A patented bottle for wine since the 17th century has not undergone major changes.

The most popular and popular is the Bordeaux bottle, it can be easily recognized by its characteristic shoulders and concave bottom. It is used for filling red and white wines.

The Burgundian bottle is characterized by more sloping shoulders, this is the second most important glass container for wines.

Stretched up Burgundy bottle called "flute", was first released in Germany.

The famous bottle for champagne was invented (according to the legend of the producer of champagnes "Dom Perignon") by the monk Pierre Perignon. A special feature of this container is the thickness of the walls, a special closure and a weighted bottom.

Containers for vodka and strong drinks

During the years of Soviet power, the inhabitants of the country did not experience any inconvenience from the conciseness of the proposed forms of glass containers, in which vodka, cognac and rum were bottled. The sale of vodka was organized on the reverse glass container: the population received dirty bottles, then the label was washed off from them, washing was carried out in special machines, only after that the bottle was filled with vodka again. Typical were the capacities of transparent and dark green bottles - 0.5 liters, less often 0.25.

Today's proposals of vodka manufacturers amaze the imagination not only with the unusual content and names, but also in form. Traditional glass Soviet bottles go into the background, giving way to the design of forms with monograms and colorful labels. Most often, the container is non-negotiable today.

Beer: glass or PET

A traditional bottle for beer after a beer mug is a glass bottle: white, transparent, green, dark brown. Until 1970, it was glass that was in demand for filling a foamy drink.

Manufacture of a bottle made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) became an unconditional alternative to heavy glass. Weight of a plastic container for beer (and other beverages) 0.5 liters - only 28 grams, and glass weighs 350 grams.

Manufacturers of PET bottles consider the low cost, ease of processing, and aesthetics, and the possibility of processing to the advantages of this container.

Disadvantages of PET packaging

Barrier qualities of PET bottles do not allow liquids to be stored in containers for a long time. This is due to the fact that smaller gas molecules (oxygen and carbon dioxide) penetrate quite easily through chains of high-molecular structure of polyethylene terephthalate. It is not an obstacle to ultraviolet rays.

Therefore, the properties of carbonated beverages are changing. In Germany beer in bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate can only be used for two weeks. Domestic manufacturers put large tolerances - up to four months.

What is sold in bottles of polyethylene terephthalate, except beer?

The company "PepsiCo" was the first to apply such a container for soft drinks. In 1974 in Novorossiysk this company built a factory for the production of PET bottles.

The business of producing such containers is considered to be one of the most sought-after and profitable ones: a high turnover with minimal investments makes it possible to obtain a stable profit. The following is an example of the share of the cost of a bottle in the final price: 90% of the price of the mineral water is the cost of the container itself.

In Russia at the moment, PET is in demand when filling whole - and sour-milk products, vegetable oils and juices. For milk and oils, the standard capacity is 0.9-1 l. Juices are produced in bottles from 0.1 liter to 1 liter.

Mineral water in bottles in Russia is less in demand in glass containers than in PET. This is due to both the seasonality of use, and the stereotype of a relatively new public product available to Russians (since 1990) imposed by advertising.

Bottles made of plastic and aluminum: where and why

To the question: "What is sold in bottles made of plastic?" - the answer is unambiguous: the means of household chemistry, perfumery and paint and varnish industry.

It is impossible to imagine any kitchen without bottles with different wipers and stain removers. A huge selection of shampoos, gels, air conditioners in plastic or aluminum bottles is amazing.

Automotive and building paints, enamels, colors are produced by manufacturers not only in large containers, but also for the bulk buyer in plastic containers.