thermally strengthened lightweight glass
In the early 2020s, the Vetropack Group launched a genuine world-first: the first reusable bottle made of strengthened lightweight glass. Since September 2025, the robust lightweight glass containers are being sold under the name "Rezon". The innovative solution is the result of years of research and development and offers beverage producers tangible ecological and economic benefits thanks to its light weight, high durability, and resistance to abrasion.
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The reusable bottles produced with Vetropack’s technology save up to 30 percent in weight compared to their conventional counterparts, reducing emissions and costs in logistics. At the same time, the thermal strengthening process results in extremely high durability and resistance to abrasion. This gives the bottles a long product life span – over many use cycles and with a long-lasting high-quality appearance, making them particularly resource-efficient.
The thermally strengthened lightweight glass bottles were first extensively and successfully tested on the market as part of a pilot project with the Vorarlberg-based Mohrenbauerei. Other users soon followed: a standard solution for the Austrian brewing industry was developed in collaboration with Brau Union, which has since made a significant contribution to achieving the Austrian reusable quota. Beverage brand Gösser was followed most recently by the Ried brewery, which is now switching its entire range to reusable bottles with the help of Vetropack’s lightweight solution. The thermally strengthened bottles are currently produced exclusively at Pöchlarn, Austria. The site is currently being outfitted with an industrial-scale machine with significantly higher output.
A new brand appearance fit for the future
For Vetropack, the transition to large-scale serial production was an opportunity to redefine its bottles and technology with a new brand appearance: Echovai becomes Rezon. The name Rezon combines "revolution" and "horizon", further referring to values such as "reason" and "resonance". The name concisely sums up what is behind the product – a responsible, sustainable solution that resonates with the market.
The new name stands for progress as well as innovative and sustainable potential. This applies not only for reusable systems but also for selected single-use applications. Rezon creates new opportunities for the beverage industry, especially where light weight and a premium glass appearance are crucial. The new branding of the proven technology and products reflects not only what they can do today, but also the role they can play tomorrow.
Award-winning performance
The innovation has won several awards. The World Packaging Organisation (WPO) honoured the lightweight bottles with a WorldStar Award in the "Alcoholic Beverages" category and a Special Award "Sustainability" in 2025, and a WorldStar Award in the "Packaging Materials & Components" category in 2024. In 2023, the lightweight glass bottles had already won a Swiss Packaging Award in the "Technology" category as well as the jury prize, thus qualifying for participation in the WorldStar Awards. In addition, Vetropack was honoured with the Austrian State Prize Smart Packaging 2024 in the "Packaging of the Future" category for its innovative containers and once again nominated for the Swiss Packaging Award – this time in the "Reusable Packaging / Reusable Systems" category. In this category, the jury makes its nominations based on the protective function and recyclability of the materials, and also assesses consumer convenience, the processes, and the ecological added value of the reusable systems. The numerous awards received in such a short period of time emphasise the innovative spirit behind Vetropack's thermally strengthened lightweight glass bottles and the importance of this packaging solution for the beverage industry.