Development of a Sustainable, Ultralight Bottled Water Packaging
In 2021, the Ministry of Environment approved the use of nitrogen charging in bottled spring water production
as a way to reduce plastic usage. In collaboration with LOTTE Chilsung, a pilot operation was jointly conducted.
Since this method was unprecedented at the time, LOTTE R&D Center took charge of designing bottled water packaging
that is attractive, safe, and convenient, while ensuring it performs reliably during distribution of nitrogen-charged spring water.
Annual reduction of 127 tons of plastic.
Simply making the water bottle as light as possible can cause issues during production, storage, and distribution, including degradation and damage. To overcome these challenges, LOTTE R&D Center applied nitrogen-charging technology. This process involves filling an empty bottle with water and liquid nitrogen, then capping it so the liquid nitrogen evaporates into gas, expanding the bottle’s internal volume by approximately 2,000 times to improve pressure resistance. The researchers designed the bottle for ease of drinking, disposal, and durability against environmental conditions. From the initial design stage, they tested various samples for weight, pressure resistance, impact resistance, and changes over time. After successful trials and mass production, LOTTE R&D Center maintained strict quality control, ultimately creating the lightest bottled water packaging in Korean history—just 9.4 grams. This innovation was applied to Icis Ultralight, launched in October 2024. Compared to Icis Original, Icis Ultralight uses 19% less plastic, resulting in an expected annual plastic reduction of 127 tons.
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