Origin Materials, a company dedicated to advancing sustainable materials, has launched its polyethylene terephthalate (PET) caps and closures manufacturing system. 

Known as the Origin CapFormer System, the solution is claimed to be the first commercial-scale production system for PET caps and closures across the globe.  

The Origin CapFormer System integrates thermoforming with advanced slit-and-fold technology, enhancing the efficiency of PET closure production and expanding the possibilities for packaging design. 

The system can produce caps compatible with the widely used PCO 1881 standard, using either virgin or recycled PET (rPET).  

These caps will be available from the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024, with tethered versions and other cap types to follow. 

The Origin CapFormer System also enables 100% PET container-to-container beverage recycling for the first time. 

Origin Materials co-CEO and co-founder John Bissell said: “The Origin CapFormer System has completed its Factory Acceptance Test at commercial production scale. The industry has been searching for PET caps for a long time and we are delighted to share that our first-of-its-kind system works spectacularly well.  

“Through the novel application of thermoforming, slit-and-fold technology, and proprietary design elements we have unlocked the ability to produce PET caps at commercial scale. We approached the problem differently than anyone had previously, and the result was a breakthrough.  

“We are addressing a $65bn caps and closures market with a strong leadership position, offering the first and only commercial-scale solution for PET caps: the state-of-the-art Origin CapFormer System.” 

Last month, Origin Materials partnered with Reed City Group, a full-scale injection-mould builder, to mass-produce PET caps and closures in North America.