Plastic Beer Bottles Go NationalPlastic Beer Bottles Go National

WASTE AGE STAFF

After extensive test marketing, Miller Brewing Co., Milwaukee, has introduced its fully recyclable plastic beer bottles to a national audience. The Miller plastic bottle also will become the first nationally distributed plastic carbonated beverage container with post-consumer recycled (PCR) material.

Millers is the first and only plastic beer bottle available for widespread retail distribution, and can be found in stores, bars and sports arenas.

The Miller plastic beer bottle made its debut in October 1998 in six major metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, Phoenix and Miami. [See "Beer Bottles With a Bounce," Waste Age May 1999, page 82.]

"Plastic bottles represent one of the biggest breakthroughs in the beer world in years and have been met with an overwhelmingly positive response," says Bob Mikulay, Miller's senior vice president of marketing. "Our plastic beer bottle offers adult beer drinkers packaging flexibility and convenience that they've enjoyed from other beverages for many years."

The multi-layer design of the Miller plastic bottle was developed and produced by Continental PET Technologies, Florence, Ky., and meets reasonable recycling needs.

The plastic bottles currently are available in 16-ounce and 20-ounce packages of Miller Lite, Miller Genuine Draft and Icehouse.