Gerolsteiner: The cap stays on

Gerolsteiner aims to complete the changeover process to the new "Bleib-dran" caps, which the company started in week 9/2023, by the end of the first quarter of 2024. The first to be successively fitted with tethered caps will be the Gerolsteiner 1.5-liter PET non-refillable bottle. Drinks in 1.0-liter and 0.75-liter non-refillable PET containers will follow at the end of 2023. The Gerolsteiner non-refillable PET range will be offered for a longer transitional period with both the previous caps and the new "stay-on lid". By the end of March 2024, well ahead of the July 3, 2024 deadline set by the EU, Gerolsteiner Brunnen aims to have completely switched over to the new closures.

Material savings support sustainability goals - large opening angle ensures drinking comfort
Gerolsteiner sees the further development of its packaging as a building block in its commitment to sustainability. The height of the "Bleibt-dran" lids is lower than that of the closure previously used, resulting in material savings of 0.05 g or 0.33 g per closure, depending on the type. The weight saving in the thread area reduces the material requirement by 0.8 or 1.3 g in each case, depending on the preform. Both contribute to a further improvement in the eco-balance of the bottles and thus support Gerolsteiner's sustainability goals. The necessary drinking comfort has also been taken care of: thanks to a reduced diameter of the neck ring, the opening angle of the cap is increased to 160 to 180 degrees. In this way, the stay-put closure neither impedes pouring nor drinking from the bottle.
Gerolsteiner is informing consumers about the new "Bleibt-dran cap" with a seal on the bottle labels. In addition, a dedicated landing page on the topic is to be created, which will be linked via a QR code on the label.

Sustainability in action
Gerolsteiner sees sustainability as part of its corporate DNA. The fountain was the first German beverage company to be registered under the Eco-Audit Regulation, has operated a systematic environmental management system since 1992, and has had a certified energy management system since 2013. The holistic sustainability concept covers the areas of health and well-being, source and product protection, environmental and climate protection, and social responsibility. Gerolsteiner was the first mineral water company to commit to the 1.5-degree target of the international climate protection policy. The company is committed to the development of climate-stable forests in the Eifel region and water-friendly agricultural management in the source area.