Bottles are hugely popular packaging types for a whole host of products, from industrial to household goods. They hold significant volumes, keep product protected from external contaminates, can be cost effective to transport and come in a variety of different types.
The Different Types of Bottles
There are a wide range of options when it comes to choosing the perfect bottle packaging, from material and size to closures and recyclability. Here is a breakdown to some of the different types of bottles.
Material
Bottles are most commonly made from plastic or glass, however there are aluminium and stainless-steel bottles, often used for sturdy water bottles. Material choice is a huge consideration and should not be taken lightly, especially as the product can be affected by the chosen material.
Commonly used plastics for bottles include:
- PET (Polyethlene Terephthalate) – a clear, lightweight plastic often used for drinks bottles.
- HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) – an opaque, sturdier plastic used for household goods such as food containers or cosmetics, such as shampoo packaging.
- PVC – a commonly found plastic but one that cannot be recycled. Has strong resistance to oils and acids. Often used for oil bottles and is found in cling film.
The two main types of glass used for bottles include:
- Soda-lime glass – most commonly found glass used for bottles and other applications such as drinking glasses.
- Cut glass – a more premium type of glass sensitive to temperature change and damage. Used for decorative items or luxury perfumes.
Shape
Different uses of bottles may lead to specific shapes being used. For example, wine bottles have a distinct bottle shape, however, even within this category, bottle shape varies often according to the type of wine i.e. high shoulder/sloping shoulder/dessert style.
An example of non-standard bottles types are perfume bottles. Often shapes vary greatly to show off elegance or to reflect the brand through unique shapes.
Generally, bottles are rounded but square shaped ones are frequently found too.
Jars, although not bottles, are common for glass packaging, especially for food stuffs or cosmetic creams.
Colour
Bottle colour can be important not only for catching a customer’s eye but also for product preservation. Light, for example, can be damaging to particular products, hence why oils or wine commonly come in dark green packaging. Lots of products, from cosmetics to household, inform users to keep product bottles out of direct sunlight.
Colour can also be significant for branding and keeping your products in theme. For example, a brand founded on simplicity and natural ingredients may use clear packaging to reflect transparency of the brand.
Size
Depending on what the product is, the size of the bottle can vary greatly. Sports drinks usually contain around 500ml but wine bottles have a standard size of 750ml with variations.
In cosmetics, bottles are often either regular size (i.e. 30ml for foundation or 500ml for shampoo) or travel size (usually around 15ml). Travel sized products are a fantastic way to get your product in front of customers or as samples.
Recycling
Recycling is certainly more than a ‘trend’, with consumers looking evermore to use sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging. In fact, of the many packaging trends of 2020, recycling came up multiple times.
Of the plastics used to make bottles listed above, PET and HDPE are widely recyclable, whereas PVC is not. Glass is an infinitely recyclable material that does not degrade with every use; therefore, glass packaging is often popular with environmentally conscious consumers.
Interested in eco-packaging? Check out this blog.
Closures
A key element to any product bottle is the closure. Be sure to find the perfect closure that fits your bottle as well as its purpose. There are many different lids/caps available to suit any needs, from screw tops (often for sports drinks) to flip lids (commonly for cosmetics or condiments).
Learn More with Fillcon
As experts in filling a range of packaging solutions, Fillcon are the go-to for all your filling and packaging needs. From sachets and tubes to bottles, we fill packaging for a range of sectors, including household, mechanical, medical and more, specialising in cosmetic sampling solutions. We use industry leading machinery at our advanced facilities to ensure perfection, cleanliness and precision.
