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In this month's collection of packs from around the world: a vodka bottle with a design that will bowl you over, a French drink packed with the spirit of Russia and a sisal wash bag that scrubs up nicely

S&M Trading vodka-fig liqueur
When the Dutch go ten-pin bowling, they do it in style - you can buy a Strike Maker, containing 40ml of vodka-fig liqueur. Quite cleverly, the white glass bottle is moulded in the shape of a skittle with ceramic printing and a ROPP aluminium cap. What appears to be a thermoset overcap completes the skittle shape.

Marico Industries vegetable oil
From Marico in India, this five-litre container of blended edible vegetable oil. Saffola Tasty is filled into an extrusion blow-moulded HDPE bottle with moulded-in handles on the top and side for ease of pouring. The closure is a simple screw-on injection-moulded cap in polypropylene fitted with an induction heat seal wad. Front and back labels are printed litho on self adhesive polyethylene coated paper.

Crystall Moscow distillery vodka
Sold in France but made in Russia is this printing masterpiece for 70cl of Vodka. The bottle has been frosted selectively to leave a clear glass window, through which the consumer can see the delights of Russian architecture printed ceramically on the opposite side of the bottle. All decoration is via this process and creates an excellent image. The closure is a screw-on injection-moulded polypropylene cap covered with an aluminium shroud that extends creating a ROPP effect on the neck.

Colgate-Palmolive classic egg shampoo
An offering from South Africa from Colgate Palmolive. 350ml of egg shampoo is held in an attractive conical-shaped extrusion blow-moulded bottle with moulded hand impressions to make the pack easier to use. The bottle is silkscreen printed and the screw cap is injection moulded in polypropylene. The HDPE bottle is produced with a pearlescent masterbatch.

Böttger Freshness shower gel
This sample of algemarin wellness shower gel comes from The Philippines. The German-made product is packed in a cleverly designed 300ml extrusion blown bottle in HDPE. Moulded ‘teardrops' are built into one side to make handling in the shower more easy. The flip-top clip-on cap also features an elastomeric valve system. Front and back labels are printed flexo and foil blocked, and a strip of clear plastic provides a tamper evident facility over the closure.

Dal Trentino Giori chocolate liqueur
Giori of Italy has produced a fascinating pack for a chocolate liqueur drink called MaraMeo. The 700ml glass bottle has been coated with an eye-catching metallic red. The front label is an amazing feat: long and shaped, printed flexo and embossed on self-adhesive paper. The back label is also printed flexo on self-adhesive paper. The cap also stands out as the push-on facility includes a tamper-evident feature. All elements are injection moulded from polypropylene. A customs control label is attached from the cap top to the neck wall.

The Body Shop Radiance Boosting Sisal Cleanser
An interesting pack from The Body Shop for purifying soap. The moulded soap bar is shrink wrapped and placed in an application pouch specially made for The Body Shop. Once unwrapped, it is used within the pouch and stimulates the skin. A card sleeve printed litho surrounds the pack and is sealed with a piggyback label printed flexo on self-adhesive polypropylene.

GNPD Packaging is a web-based database capturing product and package data, including package type and material, closure type and material, label type and material, decorative processes, inserts, production methods, style details and security aspects. The database includes colour photos of packs, editorial features on packaging trends and innovations, and is fully searchable. For further details on how the service can help you gain the competitive edge, call Mintel on 020 7606 4533. Keith Barnes, Packaging Solutions, can be contacted on 07775 696078