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Explore our flagship RPET plastic soda can solutions — purpose-built for in-flight and airline catering operations with superior clarity, safety, and sustainability.
The global aviation industry serves billions of passengers each year, and in-flight beverage service represents one of the most visible touchpoints of the passenger experience. Traditionally, airlines have relied on aluminum cans, glass bottles, and standard plastic cups — each carrying significant drawbacks in terms of weight, waste generation, and environmental impact.
RPET (Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate) plastic soda cans are rapidly emerging as the packaging solution of choice for forward-thinking airlines and catering operators. Manufactured from post-consumer recycled PET materials, these cans combine the visual appeal of traditional aluminum soda cans with the lightweight, shatterproof, and fully recyclable benefits of advanced plastic engineering.
With global aviation sustainability targets tightening — particularly under IATA's net-zero carbon commitment by 2050 — airlines are under increasing pressure to reduce single-use plastic waste and lower cabin waste weight. RPET soda cans directly address both challenges, offering a measurable reduction in carbon footprint per unit while maintaining the premium presentation standards expected by premium and economy cabin passengers alike.
Understanding the current market dynamics and emerging trends driving RPET adoption across global airline and inflight catering supply chains.
Major carriers across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and North America are actively piloting and deploying RPET plastic soda cans as part of their in-flight sustainability programs. Airlines including budget carriers and full-service operators are replacing traditional aluminum cans with RPET alternatives to meet ESG reporting requirements and passenger sustainability expectations.
RPET cans are manufactured from post-consumer recycled PET, typically derived from collected plastic bottles. This closed-loop approach aligns perfectly with the aviation industry's push toward circular economy principles, enabling airlines to demonstrate tangible progress on waste reduction metrics while maintaining competitive packaging costs.
The EU Single-Use Plastics Directive and similar regulations globally are reshaping the inflight packaging landscape. RPET cans — as a recyclable, non-single-use-waste solution — offer airlines a compliant pathway that avoids regulatory penalties while delivering a modern, consumer-friendly beverage container that resonates with eco-conscious travelers.
Airline catering companies such as LSG Group, gategroup, and dnata are increasingly specifying RPET packaging in their procurement criteria. The lightweight nature of RPET cans reduces trolley weight, lowers fuel consumption per flight, and simplifies post-flight waste sorting — delivering measurable operational cost savings across high-frequency flight routes.
Unlike aluminum cans, RPET plastic soda cans offer superior transparency and custom printing flexibility. Airlines can leverage full-wrap branding, seasonal liveries, and co-branding with beverage partners directly on the can surface. This opens significant commercial revenue opportunities through branded beverage partnerships and duty-free premium product lines.
The Asia-Pacific aviation market — the world's fastest-growing — is emerging as the primary growth engine for RPET inflight packaging. With projected passenger volumes exceeding 3.5 billion annually by 2030, regional carriers are investing heavily in sustainable packaging infrastructure, making RPET soda cans a high-priority procurement category for airline catering operators across China, Southeast Asia, and India.
From premium cabin service to charter operations, RPET plastic soda cans deliver versatile performance across every aviation beverage service context.
RPET soda cans are ideally suited for high-volume economy class beverage distribution. Their standardized 250ml and 330ml formats align with existing trolley configurations, while their shatterproof construction eliminates breakage risk during turbulence — a critical safety advantage over glass alternatives. The lightweight design reduces per-trolley weight by up to 30% compared to aluminum, directly contributing to fuel efficiency improvements on high-frequency short-haul routes.
Business and first-class cabins increasingly feature premium cold brew coffee, specialty RTD (ready-to-drink) beverages, and craft sodas. RPET clear plastic cans provide the premium visual presentation required for these high-value products, allowing passengers to see the beverage quality directly through the container. Custom-printed RPET cans with airline livery create a distinctive, premium brand touchpoint that enhances the overall cabin experience.
The inflight bar segment represents a growing application area for RPET plastic cans. Canned cocktails, sparkling wines, and craft beers in RPET format offer airlines a premium, single-serve format that eliminates the need for additional glassware, reduces washing requirements, and simplifies post-flight waste management. The EOE (Easy Open End) ring-pull lid design ensures effortless opening at altitude where fine motor control may be affected by cabin pressure.
Passenger demand for functional beverages — including electrolyte drinks, cold-pressed juices, kombucha, and vitamin-enhanced waters — is growing rapidly across all cabin classes. RPET soda cans in 200ml and 250ml formats are perfectly sized for these premium single-serve health beverages, offering the food-grade safety certifications (FDA, EU No. 10/2011) required for direct food contact applications while maintaining the recyclable credentials that health-conscious consumers demand.
Private jet operators and VIP charter services represent a high-value niche for custom-branded RPET soda cans. The ability to produce small-batch, fully customized RPET cans with bespoke branding, unique capacities, and premium finishes makes them an attractive packaging solution for luxury aviation operators seeking to differentiate their onboard beverage offering. Custom mold development capabilities enable truly unique can shapes that reinforce premium brand identity.
Beyond the aircraft cabin itself, RPET plastic soda cans are finding increasing adoption in airport lounges, gate-side beverage stations, and ground transportation services. The consistent branding across airside and landside touchpoints creates a unified passenger experience, while the recyclable packaging aligns with airport sustainability certifications including ACI's Airport Carbon Accreditation program and ISO 14001 environmental management standards.
COPAK is committed to sustainable development and has implemented targeted initiatives to minimize energy consumption, reduce waste generation, and promote material recycling. These include the adoption of energy-efficient production processes, robust waste management systems, and the integration of recycled PET materials into our cup and can manufacturing.
Each RPET plastic soda can produced by COPAK incorporates a significant percentage of post-consumer recycled content, reducing virgin plastic consumption and lowering the overall carbon footprint of the packaging lifecycle. For airlines, this translates directly into measurable Scope 3 emissions reductions — a critical metric for corporate sustainability reporting under frameworks such as GHG Protocol and CDP disclosure standards.
Our RPET cans are fully compatible with existing kerbside and airport recycling streams, ensuring that end-of-life packaging can be efficiently recovered and reprocessed into new PET materials — completing the circular economy loop and supporting airlines' zero-waste-to-landfill commitments.
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Our optimized facility and advanced equipment are governed by stringent quality control, ensuring efficient, high-standard production of RPET soda cans for airline and inflight beverage service.
Our factory is situated in a well-connected industrial zone, enabling efficient distribution via convenient transportation networks. The spacious and well-organized facility features dedicated areas for raw material storage, production lines, quality control, packaging, and logistics operations.
We are equipped with state-of-the-art blow molding machines specifically engineered for PET cup and PET can production, enabling high-speed manufacturing without compromising precision or quality. Additionally, our factory houses injection molding machines for preform production, as well as advanced printing equipment to support custom branding needs.
Our dedicated quality control department is equipped with specialized testing equipment to ensure all PET cups and PET cans adhere to stringent quality standards. Key inspection items include wall thickness uniformity, dimensional accuracy, visual defect screening, and material integrity verification.
Established in 2021, Shanghai COPAK Industry Co., Ltd. maintains a sales office in Shanghai and an associated factory in Guangdong Province. As a professional supplier of eco-friendly food and beverage packaging solutions, our product portfolio includes PET cups, PET cans, and sealing machines, among other related items.
Committed to staying ahead of market trends through continuous innovation, COPAK delivers high-quality yet cost-effective packaging solutions. Our product range covers PET cups and cans in diverse shapes and capacities — from 1oz to 32oz — available in both plain finishes and custom printed designs. As a long-term strategic partner and trusted supplier, we dedicate ourselves to designing and manufacturing reliable, premium-quality, and stylish PET cups and cans for our clients.
We offer extensive customization options to meet the unique requirements of beverage brands and clients, including tailored shapes, sizes, and capacities for PET cups and cans. Additionally, we provide full support for custom mold development and personalized printing solutions.
Adhering to global food-grade packaging regulations and standards, our factory holds various authoritative certifications, including ISO 9001, FDA, CE, ROHS, and EU No. 10/2011. These certifications underscore our unwavering commitment to producing safe, high-quality beverage packaging products.
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Our dedicated R&D team focuses continuously on product innovation and technological advancement. With professional expertise, the team specializes in developing innovative packaging solutions, optimizing production processes, and exploring sustainable materials and technologies to drive industry progress.
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We have established a streamlined logistics system to ensure efficient product distribution. This encompasses well-managed warehousing, precise inventory control, and close coordination with trusted transportation partners, guaranteeing timely and reliable delivery to clients worldwide.
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Over 20 production lines for rapid order fulfillment
Fully automated, hands-free production equipment
100,000-class cleanroom workshop
Free samples available upon request
Free replacements for products with critical defects
Browse our complete range of RPET and PET cups, cans, and packaging solutions designed for airline, inflight catering, and commercial beverage applications.
Having supplied PET cup and PET cans to numerous renowned brands, our products are now distributed globally. Partner with COPAK for a dependable, trustworthy collaboration and achieve mutual success through win-win cooperation.
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