Plastic straws make a comeback with Capri Sun in Switzerland
The European Union aims to decrease discardable waste, leading to the ban on plastic straws since 2021. However, numerous customers find the paper substitute irritating, prompting Capri-Sonne to potentially reconsider this decision, at least temporarily, in its native country. Capri-Sonne is also exploring solutions for the EU.
Swiss Capri-Sonne enthusiasts might soon enjoy using plastic straws once more, as reported by the Swiss "Sonntagszeitung". Capri-Sun, the renowned sugary fruit drink, is contemplating swapping paper straws for a plastic variant, initially only in Switzerland due to its non-EU status.
Capri-Sun AG, based in the Swiss town of Zug, implemented a ban on single-use plastic items throughout the EU in July 2021, aiming to protect the environment. In its place, paper and cardboard have been used extensively, but have been found to be problematic, especially with straws.
"Makes no sense whatsoever"
Capri-Sun introduced an enhanced straw with improved stability a few months ago. As per the packaging industry magazine "Neue Verpackung", the straw boasts a 36 percent higher bending strength and improved vertical pressure resistance. However, the result wasn't impressive enough: "We are working towards using a recyclable plastic tube again, at least in Switzerland, where the ban doesn't apply," said Capri-Sun CEO Roland Weening.
It's uncertain whether the issue lies with paper straws or customers shifting towards healthier alternatives. Regardless, Capri-Sun aims to replace paper straws with plastic ones in the long term, even in the EU. According to the Swiss "Sonntagszeitung", CEO Weening is optimistic about an exemption. "The plastic straw ban is well-intentioned, but in our case, it makes no sense whatsoever," claims the manager.
The EU's recycling standards are set to become more stringent by 2030, requiring all packaging to be reusable. This also poses a challenge for Capri-Sun, as its popular aluminum pouch consists of a mix of PE, PET, and aluminum and is virtually non-recyclable. Capri-Sun is responsible for generating 27,000 tons of disposable waste annually, as per the German Environmental Aid (DUH).
Capri-Sun sells six billion of the renowned drink pouches annually, mainly in Germany and the USA. The company has been offering its customers a completely new look for several months, introducing almost three-liter cans containing nearly 32 Capri-Suns, especially for devoted fans.
The food industry in Switzerland may see a change in straw materials, as Capri-Sun considers switching back to plastic, due to customer preferences and issues with paper straws. Despite the EU's ban on single-use plastic items, Capri-Sun CEO Roland Weening believes the plastic straw ban for their product makes no sense whatsoever and is optimistic about an exemption.
