Aseptic bottling: what you need to know

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to disrupt supply chains and mounting pressure from consumers to deliver safe and sustainably packaged products, we are seeing a surge of interest from beverage processors in aseptic bottle filling solutions. In part, this is due the inherent benefits of shelf-stable products, including lower energy costs for retailers, lower shipping costs for manufacturers and prolonged food safety. Milk and juice processors are becoming increasingly aware of these advantages, so I wanted to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about aseptic bottling solutions. 

But before I dive into the Q&A, I believe it’s important to define the aseptic bottling process. I like to describe this process as filling a sterile product into a sterile bottle, closed by a sterile cap (or cover), all within a sterile processing environment. This process can lead to better preservation and less food waste, especially in areas where refrigeration isn’t widely available.