Food Engineering logo
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
  • EXCLUSIVES
  • MEDIA
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
  • RESOURCES
  • EMAGAZINE
  • SIGN UP!
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Latest Headlines
  • Manufacturing News
  • People & Industry News
  • Plant Openings
  • Recalls
  • Regulatory Watch
  • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
  • New Plant Products
  • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
  • Alternative Protein
  • Automation
  • Cannabis
  • Cleaning | Sanitation
  • Fabulous Food Plants
  • Food Safety
  • Maintenance Strategies
  • OEE
  • Packaging
  • Sustainability
  • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
  • Plant Construction Survey
  • Plant of the Year
  • Sustainable Plant of the Year
  • State of Food Manufacturing
  • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • White Papers
  • EVENTS
  • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
  • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
  • eNewsletter
  • Custom Content & Marketing Services
  • FE Store
  • Government Links
  • Industry Associations
  • Market Research
  • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
  • eMagazine
  • Archive Issue
  • Advertise
Food Engineering logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Engineering logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest Headlines
    • Manufacturing News
    • People & Industry News
    • Plant Openings
    • Recalls
    • Regulatory Watch
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Plant Products
    • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
    • Alternative Protein
    • Automation
    • Cannabis
    • Cleaning | Sanitation
    • Fabulous Food Plants
    • Food Safety
    • Maintenance Strategies
    • OEE
    • Packaging
    • Sustainability
    • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Plant Construction Survey
    • Plant of the Year
    • Sustainable Plant of the Year
    • State of Food Manufacturing
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
    • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
    • eNewsletter
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • FE Store
    • Government Links
    • Industry Associations
    • Market Research
    • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issue
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
PackagingCannabis

How PET Can Enhance Shelf Appeal, Shelf Life of Cannabis Beverages

Penn Color offers one-pellet masterbatch solution for PET.

Nicolas Rivollet_Penn Color.jpg

Nicolas Rivollet, VP of marketing, Penn Color.

September 13, 2022

Creating an effective, great-tasting cannabis-infused beverage is only half the battle. 

Manufacturers must also seek out or develop packaging solutions that draw customers’ eyes and protect the shelf life of the product within, according to Nicolas Rivollet, VP of marketing, Penn Color.

Rivollet recently spoke to Cannabis Products about the importance of on-shelf differentiation, the advantages of PET, and the company’s one-pellet masterbatch solution.

CP: Why should cannabis-infused beverage manufacturers focus on brand differentiation?

NR: CBD and THC beverages are a great way to introduce cannabis in today’s lifestyles, and they are a perfect fit with a mega trend in beverage consumption: consumers are moving away from the indulgent segments, including the not-so-healthy carbonated soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. Consumers are moving toward healthy products with a purpose. This is fueling the growth of the functional, nutritious beverages segment, including healthy juices, functional drinks, dairy and non-dairy milk alternatives. CBD and THC beverages are also functional, but they are functional at a whole different level. They are functional with health and wellness benefits — there is really no better fit with the definition of a healthy product with a purpose. That fit drives the success of CBD and THC beverages, with growth expected to be between 25 and 50% over the next five years.

However, with success come challenges. The beverage segment has never been so crowded. The decline of carbonated soft drinks has opened huge white spaces, and in those white spaces, there are hundreds of new products, constantly renewed, constantly refreshed. That’s the competition that CBD and THC beverages face as they enter the segment. There is also increasing competition between CBD and THC products themselves. For a brand launching a new CBD or THC beverage, a critical challenge is to differentiate on the shelves, in an increasingly crowded space.

CP: What role does packaging play in building brand differentiation?

NR: The CBD and THC segment is the fastest growing in the whole beverage world, and it is fueled by unlimited product creativity. CBD and THC beverages come in infinite combinations of exciting flavors and unique ratios, each creating a different experience, each having a different function. Rightly so, brands spend a lot of money, time, and energy creating great products. However, the success of a product can be jeopardized if the packaging isn’t as great as the product. Research on consumer behavior shows that 80% of consumers recognize their favorite brand and product by the shape and the colors of the packaging. Packaging is a critical contributor to brand equity.

CP: Why is PET an ideal material for packaging cannabis-infused beverages?

NR: In the vibrant world of CBD and THC beverages, success requires strong branding, and branding is about storytelling. Compared to other alternatives, PET offers freedom in packaging design, allowing each unique shape to tell a different story. In addition to shapes, there is a complete range of colors and textures in the PET toolbox, offering unlimited opportunities to make each packaging memorable and immediately recognizable.

Trust is another critical aspect of branding. When a consumer purchases a cannabis infused beverage, they want the right experience, all the time. Consumers want consistency and predictability, and that’s how they build their trust in a product and the brand. PET supports trust, by helping brands control potency and the pharmacokinetics that define shelf-life, considering the product, the process, the package and the delivery. 

CP: How does PET compare to glass and cans?

NR: From a brand differentiation standpoint, the power of design freedom with PET is unmatched. This is the opportunity to benefit from outstanding shelf appeal, while glass bottles and beverage cans, typically available in stock shapes, blend in. From a consumer experience standpoint, PET packages have the obvious advantage versus glass of being unbreakable and lightweight. PET can be fitted with a child resistant and resealable closure in a much more functional and cost-effective way than glass bottles and beverage cans. PET bottles are also commonly available in specific in-trend formats, such as 2-oz. shots.

PET also presents a better sustainability profile than glass bottles and beverage cans. In a recent study, McKinsey found that “among applications for which non-plastic alternatives are used at scale, the plastics examined (…) offer lower total GHG contribution compared with alternatives in 13 of 14 cases. GHG savings range from 10 to 90 percent, considering both product life cycle and impact of use.” Specifically, the contribution of PET to GHG is 435 kg CO2 eq per 100,000 oz. of soft drink, while aluminum is about two times higher (890 kg CO2 eq) and glass is about three times higher (1,170 kg CO2 eq).

CP: When did Penn Color begin working on its one-pellet masterbatch solution? What was the inspiration behind it?

NR: Penn Color started to work on a masterbatch solution specific to CBD and THC beverages about 18 months ago. The development is typical of the continuous R&D efforts that Penn Color invests in every year in enabling technologies to open new market segments. Penn Color saw the potential for PET to give brands a decisive advantage from a shelf appeal and consumer experience perspective, while identifying unmet needs for a more dependable and practical solution to enhance the performance of PET from a shelf-life perspective. Early in development, Penn Color partnered with key players eager to pave the way for PET in the CBD and THC beverages business, including emulsion specialists, equipment manufacturers for injection and blowing machines as well as co-packers.

CP: How does beverages’ cannabinoid potency change over time? How does the one-pellet solution protect cannabinoid potency?

NR: Poor control of shelf life can have a dramatic impact on consumer experience. Shelf-life analysis of commercial products have shown potency losses of up to 80% after just five weeks with some aluminum beverage cans. This was mainly due to the chemistry between the active ingredient and some types of liners in these cans — some liners performed well, but others were literally absorbing the active ingredients. Similarly, some PET packages showed 50% loss in six months. This is a slower but still very significant loss due to the degradation of the active ingredients.

Analytical work and trials show that shelf life is driven by a complex set of factors, with interactions that are specific to CBD and THC infused beverages and influenced by the emulsion technology, the resin, the colors and the functional additives used to make the bottle.  Oxidation is a key factor: active ingredients in CBD and THC beverages are sensitive to the intake of ambient oxygen, the diffusion of oxygen in the headspace, the oxygen dissolved in the beverage itself. Light is also a factor, as it accelerates oxidation.

However, when properly formulated together, the emulsion and the masterbatch (with the colors and functional additives) give the key to shelf-life management. There are interesting similarities between the emulsion and the masterbatch: the emulsion is used to disperse the active ingredient in the beverage, the masterbatch is used to disperse the colors and functional additives in the material of the package. Formulating the emulsion and the masterbatch together is the best way to control oxidation, while ensuring the compatibility between the different ingredients and the compatibility between the ingredients and the package itself.

The new one-pellet solution helps create an outstanding package on the shelf and a delightful consumer experience all the time. It provides both opacity and oxygen scavenging. It is very convenient, because there is only one pellet to handle instead of two. It is also more reliable to control shelf life, because the risk of dosage mistakes is virtually eliminated. Tests conducted with commercial emulsions in different package types suggest that with the one-pellet CBD/THC masterbatch, bottles made from 100% recycled PET and fitted with a barrier to oxygen can deliver a shelf life of nine months.


This article was originally posted on www.cannabisproductsinsider.com

KEYWORDS: cannabis packaging packaging design packaging materials

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    With a CAGR of 12.07%, Bonafide Research estimates this...
    People & Industry News
  • skilled MEP worker

    Predicting Food and Beverage Manufacturing Trends for 2024

    The two words that should be kept in mind are labor and...
    Automation
    By: Derrick Teal
  • cleaning and sanitation

    The basics of cleaning and sanitation in food plants

    Sanitation maintains or restores a state of cleanliness...
    Food Safety
    By: Richard F. Stier
close

1 COMPLIMENTARY ARTICLE(S) LEFT

Loader

Already a Registered User? Sign in now.

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Customer Service

Food Plant Openings and Expansions June 2025

Food Plant Openings and Expansions June 2025

Celebrating Women in Engineering: Shalima Sreenath

Celebrating Women in Engineering: Shalima Sreenath

Celebrating Women in Engineering: Samara Heaggans

Celebrating Women in Engineering: Samara Heaggans

Food Plant Openings and Expansions May 2025

Food Plant Openings and Expansions May 2025

More Videos

Popular Stories

Cargill Cocoa Plant

Cargill Invests in its Cocoa Supply Chain

Campbell’s Utah plant

Going for Gold(fish): Inside The Campbell’s Company’s $160M Cracker Plant Expansion

Woman engineer on construction site

Exploring the Impact of Women Engineers on the Food Industry

CHECK OUT OUR NEW ESSENTIAL TOPICS

Alternative ProteinAutomationCleaning/SanitationFabulous Food Plants

Food SafetyMaintenance StrategiesOEE

PackagingSustainability

Events

June 17, 2025

Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ State of the Cold Chain

On Demand Kelley Rodriguez, Editor in Chief of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods, will be joined in this 60-minute webinar by industry experts to help unpack the latest research.

July 23, 2025

Decarbonizing Process Heat: What You Should Know and Next Steps

Driven by climate goals, business risk, client interest, and resilience considerations, food and beverage companies are increasingly turning their attention to decarbonizing their production processes.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

See More Products

Plant of the Year

Related Articles

  • Growpacker

    Cannabis emulsification technology improves shelf life of consumer products

    See More
  • Mitsubishi oxygen absorption technology

    How Mitsubishi is helping companies extend shelf life

    See More
  • KM Packaging Solutions' new polyester-based film laminate

    Lidding extends shelf life of premium chilled goods

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • military-food-engineering.gif

    Military Food Engineering and Ration Technology

  • food-book.gif

    The 10 Principles of Food Industry Sustainability

  • vegetables.jpg

    Handbook of Vegetables and Vegetable Processing, 2nd Edition

See More Products
×

Elevate your expertise in food engineering with unparalleled insights and connections.

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Food Master
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

Food Engineering logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Engineering logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest Headlines
    • Manufacturing News
    • People & Industry News
    • Plant Openings
    • Recalls
    • Regulatory Watch
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Plant Products
    • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
    • Alternative Protein
    • Automation
    • Cannabis
    • Cleaning | Sanitation
    • Fabulous Food Plants
    • Food Safety
    • Maintenance Strategies
    • OEE
    • Packaging
    • Sustainability
    • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Plant Construction Survey
    • Plant of the Year
    • Sustainable Plant of the Year
    • State of Food Manufacturing
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
    • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
    • eNewsletter
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • FE Store
    • Government Links
    • Industry Associations
    • Market Research
    • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issue
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!