Greiner Packaging International has outlined plans to ban the use of chemical compound Bisphenol A (BPA) in the production of food packaging by the end of March 2014.
The company plans to change all production lines to 'BPA-free' raw materials, as it takes advantage of expertise in processing BPA-free alternatives.
The changeover is likely to have an impact on five-gallon water bottles, which are still being produced from polycarbonate, the company said.
Greiner Packaging International CEO Willi Eibner said, "For us, innovation means making life a bit better and easier through creating smart packaging solutions."
"In doing so, protecting the health of consumers is our top priority. Therefore, we will be the first leading company in our industry changing completely over to BPA-free materials in food packaging," Eibner added.
Greiner Packaging prefers crystal-clear, heat-resistant, dishwasher-proof Tritan copolyester from Eastman as BPA-free raw material for water bottles.
The chemical was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food and Safety Association (EFSA). It allows for a high degree of design flexibility.
Greiner Packaging can use it in injection stretch blow molding and extrusion blow molding in the production of 5-gallon water bottles.
