Amcor replaces water bottles with flexible grab bag at UK marathons

- Weight and source reduction offer environmental benefits over other bottle types at UK marathons

 

- Design features allow easy opening and reduces risk of spillage, plus additional benefits for the user

 

Amcor Flexibles partnered with Iconiq Drinks to offer athletes that took part in three marathons across the UK earlier this year water in flexible packaging, instead of bottles, in a move to provide ‘eco-friendly water consumption’.

 

The 250ml Iconiq water pouch, also known as the Amcor AquaFlexCan, was offered to athletes taking part in the Brighton Marathon, Greater Manchester Marathon and the Marathon of the North.

 

The Amcor AquaFlexCan is described as a unique stand-up flexible container for packaging non-carbonated water and other still beverages.

 

The design features a laser perforation to facilitate easy opening, and the “tear-n-sip” concept requires no straw or scissors. The special seal geometry of the mouthpiece allows consumers to easily control the liquid flow and limits spills if the pack is knocked over.

 

Amcor lists potential applications for the pouch as ready-to-drink teas and coffees, sports drinks, chilled soup and waters. It also has application potential in the automotive sector.

Benefits are said to include product and brand differentiation, convenience and a lighter weight pack.

 

Amcor said the use of flexible packaging offers a lower carbon footprint compared to PET and glass bottles, and less waste as one AquaFlexCan weighs just 3g, compared to 25g for a PET bottle.

 

Gary Barnshaw, founder of Iconiq Drinks, said: ‘We are the first manufacturer in the UK to use this particular portable grab pack, which not only leads the way in eco-friendly water consumption, but is also innovative in design.

 

‘For the Brighton Marathon, it meant 90 percent less landfill – the equivalent of a third of the average UK citizen's entire carbon footprint for a year – and the first marathon in the UK to use Iconiq Drinks water pouches instead of PET water bottles.

 

‘Runners at this year’s events found the top-quality Scandinavian water pouches perfect to quench thirst during the run, were light to carry, were able to run with them without spilling and, importantly, were a non-trip hazard as once dropped they crush on impact.

 

‘Thousands of runners took part in these marathons and thanks to the Amcor AquaFlexCan they enjoyed a refreshing new way of drinking water on the go.’

 

Read more on Amcor here

Read more flexible packaging here

Read more news from the European market here