Plastic extrusion and injection stretch blowmolding manufacturer Meredith-Springfield has used PET to eliminate fluorination in several of animal care merchandise provider W.F. Young's packaging. Fluorination in plastic bottles prevents distortion and reduces chemical permeation, weight loss and odor emission. The process involves treating the surface of the plastic with fluorine gas and can result in extra costs, according to Meredith-Springfield. The PET bottles Meredith-Springfield created eliminates the need for fluorination for several of W.F. Young's product lines.

"PET is a non-leaching plastic that does not allow carcinogens or other contaminants to enter a container's contents," said Dwight Lowe, director of sales at Meredith-Springfield. "It is, essentially, a polyester that exists as both an amorphous (transparent) substance and a semi-crystalline material and is made into glass alternative containers by using improved barrier technology."

Meredith-Springfield's ability to adapt to the current economic and sustainable climate to develop alternatives to glass and fluorinated bottles is an important aspect of their continuous relationship with W.F. Young, said Mike Sheehan, vice president of operations at W.F. Young. The companies have worked together for nearly three decades. The plastics manufacturer has created 20 different bottles for W.F Young's various product lines, Sheehan said.

"These are pretty much stock-size bottles that we have for our business, although Meredith-Springfield is very amenable to helping us with future projects," he said. The two companies are currently in the research and development phase of improvements to existing bottles to make them more resilient.