Patent Publication Number: US-2022227532-A1

Title: Container case

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/138,710, filed Jan. 18, 2021, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present invention relates to recyclable containers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Consumable liquid drinking products are often packaged in containers made from plastics such as polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and the like. The containers can be arranged in groups and wrapped in a shrink film to form a container case for distribution. The shrink film can likewise be made from a recyclable plastic such as PE so that the container case, including the containers and the shrink film, as well as any cardboard base, are recyclable. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides, in one aspect, a container case including a plurality of containers wrapped in a shrink film. The shrink film includes a first open end having a first rim that defines a first opening, and a second open end located opposite the first open end, the second open end having a second rim that defines a second opening. The container case also includes a closing component coupled to the shrink film. The closing component includes at least a portion thereof configured for uncoupling from one portion of the shrink film and recoupling to another portion of the shrink film to thereby reduce an area of the first opening. 
     The present disclosure provides, in another aspect, a method of manufacturing a container case. The method includes arranging a plurality of containers into a container matrix, wrapping the container matrix with a shrink film in an expanded state, contracting the shrink film about the container matrix to form a container case, and coupling a closing component to the shrink film. At least a portion of the closing component is configured to be uncoupled from one portion of the shrink film and re-adhered to another portion of the shrink film to thereby reduce an area of an opening formed in the shrink film. 
     The present disclosure provides, in another aspect, a method of recovering a container case for recycling by a recycling facility. The method includes providing the container case, wherein the container case includes a plurality of containers wrapped in a shrink film and a closing component coupled to the shrink film, at least a portion of the closing component is configured to be uncoupled from one portion of the shrink film and re-adhered to another portion of the shrink film to thereby reduce an area of an opening formed in the shrink film. The method further includes providing instructions to return the plurality of containers to the shrink film in response to the plurality of containers being removed from the shrink film, providing instructions to close the opening via the closing component to secure the containers within the shrink film, and providing instructions to ship the container case to the recycling facility. 
     Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are each perspective views of a container case including a plurality of containers wrapped in a shrink film. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the container case with a closing component coupled to the shrink film. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the container case with the containers removed from the shrink film. 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are perspective views illustrating operation of the closing component. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the container case with the containers placed back inside of the shrink film. 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are perspective views illustrating operation of a closing component according to another embodiment. 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  are perspective views illustrating operation of a closing component according to another embodiment. 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  are perspective views illustrating operation of a closing component according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view illustrating a closing component according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view illustrating a closing component according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view illustrating a closing component according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view illustrating a closing component according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view illustrating a closing component according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view illustrating a closing component according to another embodiment. 
         FIGS. 20A-20C  are perspective views illustrating a closing component according to another embodiment. 
         FIGS. 21A-21C  are perspective views illustrating a closing component according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 22  is a flow chart illustrating a method for converting the shrink film to a bag for collecting and transporting the containers after use. 
         FIG. 23  is a flow chart illustrating a method of assembling the container case. 
         FIG. 24  is a flow chart illustrating a method of recovering containers for recycling. 
         FIG. 25  is a flow chart illustrating a decentralized method of recovering containers for recycling. 
     
    
    
     Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of supporting other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a shrink-wrapped container case  10  including a plurality of containers  14  wrapped in a shrink film  18 . The containers  14  can be configured to store a liquid product (e.g., a consumable liquid product), such as water, juice, carbonated liquids, or other beverages. Each container  14  includes a bottle  22  and a cap  26  that removably couples to a neck of the bottle  22  to enclose a volume of space within the container  14  for storing the liquid product. In the illustrated embodiments, the containers  14  are arranged into a matrix of generally parallel rows  30  of the containers  14 , with each pair of two adjacent rows  30  being staggered relative to each other to minimize any empty space therebetween. The shrink film  18  is tightly wrapped or form-fitted about the matrix of the containers  14  to secure and hold the containers  14  within the matrix arrangement. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the container case  10  includes six rows  30  with four containers per row for a total of twenty-four containers. In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3-13 , the container case  10  includes eight rows  30  with five containers per row for a total of forty containers. Other arrangements and numbers of containers within a container case are also contemplated (e.g., to accommodate containers of differing shapes or of differing sizes, etc.), and the disclosure is not limiting with respect to the arrangement or number of containers included in a container case. 
     To facilitate recycling of the container case  10 , the shrink film  18  and the containers  14  (including the bottles  22  and the caps  26 ) are all constructed from compatible recyclable plastic materials. This allows a consumer to recycle the container case  10  in its entirety without the need for sorting or separating its constituent components. For example, each of the components of the container case  10  can be made from, e.g., polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and the like to allow for recycling compatibility. More specifically, the shrink film  18  can be made from, e.g., low-density polyethylene (LDPE), the bottle  22  can be made from, e.g., PET, and the cap  26  can be made from, e.g., high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Other plastic materials are also contemplated, provided that they are compatible recyclable materials (i.e., they may be recycled together without being separated). In addition, the containers  14  and the shrink film  18  may include additional components (e.g., separate labels, etc.; not shown), which can likewise be made from compatible recyclable materials to facilitate recycling after use without having to be separated out or sorted from the rest of the container case  10 . 
     The shrink film  18  has a generally tubular shape and includes a first open end  34  and a second open end  38  opposite the first open end  34 . The first open end  34  includes a first periphery or rim  42  that partially covers an outermost row  30  of the containers  14  proximate the first open end  34 , and the second open end  38  likewise includes a second periphery or rim  46  that partially covers an opposite outermost row  30  of the containers  14  proximate the second open end  38 . The first rim  42  defines a first opening or first bull&#39;s eye  50  of the applied shrink film  18  at the first open end  34 , and the second rim  46  defines a second opening or second bull&#39;s eye  54  of the applied shrink film  18  at the second open end  38 . To remove a container  14  from the container case  10 , the shrink film  18  can be stretched or torn at either rim  42 ,  46  to expand the corresponding bull&#39;s eye  50 ,  54  until the container  14  can be removed. 
     During use, the containers  14  are removed from the shrink film  18  and the contents are consumed such that the container is spent. Once the containers  14  have been removed ( FIG. 4 ), the shrink film  18  can be converted to a receptacle or bag  58  ( FIG. 7 ) for collecting and retaining the spent containers  14 . This allows the container case  10  to be easily and efficiently transformed after use and thereafter transported to a recycling destination. 
       FIGS. 3-13  illustrate embodiments of a closing component  62  provided with the container case  10  and operable to at least partially close or reduce an open area of at least one of the two bull&#39;s eyes  50 ,  54  of the shrink film  18  after the containers  14  have been removed therefrom. For purposes of this disclosure, the open area of the bull&#39;s eye can be defined as an area of the open space circumscribed by the rim of the bull&#39;s eye and unobstructed by the closing component  62 . The closing component  62  can be constructed or formed from a recyclable plastic material (e.g., PE plastic) that is compatible for recycling with the materials of the container case  10  and does not need to be sorted therefrom, and can be formed as, e.g., a strip, a sticker, a cover, a sheet, an overlay, and the like. When one of the bull&#39;s eyes  50 ,  54  is partially or fully closed by the closing component  62 , the consumer can place spent containers  14  (one or more of which may be crushed) back inside the converted shrink film  18  (converted to the bag  58 ) through the remaining open bull&#39;s eye  50 ,  54 , and stored and transported therein. The closing component  62  sufficiently reduces an open area of the at least partially closed bull&#39;s eye to block, impede, or prevent the spent containers  14  from passing therethrough. For simplicity, the following description will hereafter refer to the at least partially closed bull&#39;s eye as the first bull&#39;s eye  50  and to the remaining open bull&#39;s eye as the second bull&#39;s eye  54 , although it should be understood that the arrangement may be reversed. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3-7 , in one embodiment, the closing component  62  is in the form of an elongated strip  62   a  of plastic material (e.g., PE plastic) compatible for recycling with the container case  10 . The elongated strip  62   a  is adhered to the shrink film  18  on a top surface thereof at a location adjacent the first bull&#39;s eye  50 . In other embodiments, the closing component  62  can include other shapes or forms (described further below) and can alternatively be coupled to other regions of the container case  10 , such as to the bottom or the side surfaces of the shrink film  18  or to one or more of the containers  14  themselves, and can be located adjacent the second bull&#39;s eye  54 , at an intermediate position between the bull&#39;s eyes  50 ,  54 , etc. In the illustrated embodiment, the elongated strip  62   a  is adhered directly to the shrink film  18  via a layer of re-adherable adhesive that allows at least a portion of the elongated strip  62   a  to be peeled away from the shrink film  18  ( FIG. 5 ) and then re-adhered to a different portion of the shrink film  18  so as to at least partially close the first bull&#39;s eye  50  ( FIG. 6 ). The adhesive is likewise compatible for recycling with each of the materials forming the container case  10 , including the containers  14 , the shrink film  18 , the closing component  62 , etc. Alternatively, in some embodiments the elongated strip can include a base layer (not shown) fixedly or permanently adhered to the shrink film  18 , and a top layer (not shown) removably adhered to the base layer. In such embodiments, only the top layer of the elongated strip is peeled back from the base layer and then adhered to the shrink film  18  in the manner described herein. In the same or other embodiments, two or more different adhesives may be used to couple the elongated strip  62   a  to the shrink film  18 . More specifically, a first, more robust adhesive can secure one portion of the elongated strip  62   a  to the shrink film  18  in a non-removable manner, and a second, re-adherable adhesive can removably adhere a removable portion of the elongated strip  62   a  to the shrink film  18 . Moreover, the closing component  62  can be provided as two or more elongated strips  62   a . In further embodiments, the closing component  62  can include a lattice structure of two or more connected elongated strips (not shown). 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate another embodiment of the closing component  62  in the form of an annular sticker  62   b  of plastic material (e.g., PE plastic) that is compatible for recycling with the container case  10 . The annular sticker  62   b  is adhered to the shrink film  18  on a top surface thereof between the first and second bull&#39;s eyes  50 ,  54 . The annular sticker  62   b  can have a shape corresponding to the shape of the first bull&#39;s eye  50 , and can have an area larger than the area of the first bull&#39;s eye  50  so that the annular sticker  62   b  completely closes the first bull&#39;s eye  50  when adhered to the first rim  42  of the shrink film  18 . Advantageously, the annular sticker  62   b  can be placed over the first bull&#39;s eye  50  before the containers  14  are initially removed from the shrink film  18 , which may encourage the user to preserve the first bull&#39;s eye  50  and to place the used containers  14  back into the converted shrink film  18 . In some embodiments, a re-adherable adhesive can be provided only at a peripheral region of the annular sticker  62   b , i.e., the region that engages the first rim  42  when the annular sticker  62   b  is placed over the first bull&#39;s eye  50 . This prevents the annular sticker  62   b  from sticking to the containers  14  if the annular sticker  62   b  is positioned to close the first bull&#39;s eye  50  prior to the containers  14  initially being removed. 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate another embodiment of the closing component  62  provided as a layered sticker  62   c  including a base layer  66  and a removable layer  70 . A first, more robust adhesive can secure the base layer  66  to the shrink film  18  in a non-removable manner, and a second, re-adherable adhesive can removably adhere the removable layer  70  to the base layer  66 . The removable layer  70  can otherwise be similar to the annular sticker  62   b  or to the elongated strip  62   a  described above and operate similarly. Providing the layered sticker  62   c  with the base and removable layers  66 ,  70  can decrease the likelihood that the user compromises the shrink film  18  (e.g., by excessive tearing) while removing and repositioning the closing component  62 . 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate another embodiment of the closing component  62  provided as a folded layer  62   d  that folds against itself along a fold line  78 . The fold line  78  is located proximate the first bull&#39;s eye  50  and divides the folded layer  62   d  between a fixed portion  82  adhered to the shrink film  18  and a movable portion  86  that can be peeled away from the fixed portion  82 . To operate the folded layer  62   d , the movable portion  86  is peeled away from the fixed portion  82 , pivoted about the fold line  78 , and adhered to the first rim  42  to at least partially close the first bull&#39;s eye  50 . In this regard, an adhesive layer can be provided on portions of the movable portion  86  or on portions of the first rim  42  to adhere the moveable portion to the first rim  42 . 
     Each of the closing components  62  described herein can include markings such as text, images, indicia, digital watermarks (visible or non-visible to the human eye), and the like that can instruct the user or consumer on how to manipulate the closing component  62  to convert the shrink film  18  into the bag  58 . Additionally or alternatively, such markings can be provided on the shrink film  18  itself, on the containers  14 , or on other components of the container case  10 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates another embodiment of the closing component  62  provided as a pull string assembly  62   e  including a pull string  90  slidably received within a wrapper  94 . The wrapper  94  can include two stacked layers or sheets of recyclable material (e.g., such as PE), and the pull string  90  can be sandwiched between the two layers with the distal ends of the pull string  90  protruding out from the wrapper  94  (e.g., through a slit in the wrapper  94 ) so as to be grasped and pulled by the user. The pull string assembly  62   e  can be coupled to the shrink film  18  about the first bull&#39;s eye  50  (e.g., via adhesive). In operation, the two ends of the pull string  90  are grasped and pulled away from each other so that the pull string  90  slides out of the wrapper  94  through the slit, causing the wrapper  94  to contract or cinch and reduce the open area of the first bull&#39;s eye  50 . 
       FIG. 15  illustrates another embodiment of the closing component  62  provided as an alternative pull string assembly  62   f  that is similar to the pull string assembly  62   e  shown in FIG.  14 , but with the pull string  90  incorporated into the shrink film  18  itself rather than provided inside a separate wrapper. Specifically, the shrink film  18  can include a series of apertures or slits  98  provided at intervals about the first bull&#39;s eye  50  proximate the first rim  42 . The pull string  90  can extend through each of the slits  98  such that the pull string  90  is woven into the shrink film  18  itself about the first bull&#39;s eye  50 . In operation, the two ends of the pull string  90  are grasped and pulled away from each other so that the pull string  90  slides through the slits  98 , causing the shrink film  18  to contract and reduce the open area of the first bull&#39;s eye  50 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates another embodiment of the closing component  62  provided as an elongated wire tie fastener or “twist tie”  62   g  that can be removably adhered to the shrink film  18 . The twist tie  62   g  can be made of one or more metal wires encased in a thin strip of paper or plastic and can retain its shape after bending. In use, the twist tie  62   g  is removed from the shrink film  18 , the first bull&#39;s eye  50  is pulled closed by pulling portions of the first rim  42  toward one another, and the twist tie  62   g  is wrapped about the portions of the first rim  42  to generally close, or reduce an open area of, the first bull&#39;s eye  50 . 
       FIG. 17  illustrates another embodiment of the closing component  62  provided as a portion of material or flap  62   h  formed from the shrink film  18  itself. Specifically, the shrink film  18  can include rows of perforations  102  extending from the first rim  42  of the first bull&#39;s eye  50  toward the second bull&#39;s eye  54  along a longitudinal direction of the shrink film  18 . The shrink film  18  can be torn along the rows of perforations  102  to produce the flap  62   h  and also enlarge an open area of the first bull&#39;s eye  50 . The flap  62   h  can be inserted into the second bull&#39;s eye  54  to close the second bull&#39;s eye  54 , and the spent bottles  14  can be placed back inside the shrink film  18  through the enlarged first bull&#39;s eye  54  for storing and transporting. In some embodiments, instead of rows of perforations, lines or other markings can be provided on the shrink film  18  indicating to the user where to cut the shrink film  18  to produce the flap  62   h.    
       FIG. 18  illustrates another embodiment of the closing component  62  provided as an enlarged, re-adherable sticker  62   i  coupled to the shrink film  18 . The sticker  62   i  can be peeled away from the shrink film  18 , portions of the first rim  42  or portions of the second rim  46  can be pulled under the sticker  62   i , and the sticker  62   i  can be re-adhered to the shrink film  18  to secure the portions of the rims  42 ,  46  to close the first bull&#39;s eye  50  or the second bull&#39;s eye  54 . Moreover, if the user tears any additional openings in the shrink film  18  during use, the additional openings can likewise be closed with the sticker  62   i.    
       FIG. 19  illustrates another embodiment of the closing component  62  provided as a portion of material or flap  62   j  formed from the shrink film  18  itself. The flap  62   j  may be defined by a u-shaped slit that is cut into the shrink film  18  and can include a free end  106  that can removably adhere to a portion of the surrounding shrink film  18  to close the flap  62   j . The user can open the flap  62   j  by pulling the free end  106  away from the shrink film  18  to reveal an opening in the shrink film  18  providing access to the bottles  14 . In some embodiments, one or both of the bull&#39;s eyes  50 ,  54  can be omitted so that the shrink film  18  can be repurposed as a bag after the bottles  22  are spent. 
       FIGS. 20A-20C  illustrate another embodiment of the closing component  62  provided as multiple detachable strips  62   k  formed from the shrink film  18  itself and configured to be tied together to close or reduce an open area of the first bull&#39;s eye  50 . Specifically, the shrink film  18  can include rows of perforations  102  ( FIG. 20A ) extending from the first rim  42  of the first bull&#39;s eye  50  generally toward the second bull&#39;s eye  54  to define the detachable strips  62   k , and the shrink film  18  can be torn along the rows of perforations  102  to form the strips  62   k  ( FIG. 20B ). In the illustrated embodiment, four pairs of rows of perforations  102  are provided about the first bull&#39;s eye  50  to define four detachable strips  62   k . In other embodiments, fewer (e.g., two or three) or more (e.g., five, six, or more) strips  62   k  can be provided, and lines or other markings can be provided on the shrink film  18  in lieu of the perforations to indicate to the user where to cut the shrink film  18  to produce the strips  62   k . In use, the strips  62   k  can be tied together ( FIG. 20C ) to close the first bull&#39;s eye  54  and convert the shrink film  18  to a bag for collecting spent containers  14 . 
       FIGS. 21A-21C  illustrate another embodiment of the closing component  62  provided as multiple detachable strips  621  formed from the shrink film  18  itself. Specifically, the shrink film  18  can include a zigzagging row of perforations  102  ( FIG. 21A ) extending back and forth across a top portion of the shrink film  18 . The shrink film  18  can be torn along the row of perforations  102  to produce two of the detachable strips  621  ( FIG. 21B ) and to create an opening  110  in the top portion of the shrink film  18 . In some embodiments, lines or other markings can be provided on the shrink film  18  in lieu of the perforations to indicate to the user where to cut the shrink film  18  to produce the strips  621 . The bottles  14  can be accessed and removed via the opening formed when the strips  621  are created, and then spent bottles  14  can be placed back inside the shrink film  18  and the opening can be closed, or an open area of the opening can be reduced, by tying the strips  621  together ( FIG. 21C ). In the embodiment of  FIGS. 21A-21C  one or both of the bull&#39;s eyes  50 ,  54  can be omitted from the shrink film  18 . 
       FIG. 22  is a flow chart illustrating a method  200  for recycling the container case  10 . First, the unused containers  14  are removed from the shrink film  18  while sufficiently preserving at least one of the bull&#39;s eyes  50 ,  54  (e.g., the first bull&#39;s eye  50 ) (step  204 ). Excessive tearing or stretching of the first rim  42  of the first bull&#39;s eye  50  should be avoided so that the preserved first bull&#39;s eye  50  can later be partially or fully closed with the closing component  62 . This can be accomplished by, e.g., removing the containers  14  from the shrink film  18  only through the second bull&#39;s eye  54  so that the first bull&#39;s eye  50  remains undisturbed. Next, at least a portion of the closing component  62  is peeled away or removed from the shrink film  18  (step  208 ), and then the at least a portion of the closing component  62  is coupled back to the shrink film  18  to reduce the open area of the first bull&#39;s eye  50 , or at least partially close the first bull&#39;s eye  50  (step  212 ). For example, opposite portions of the first rim  42  can be pinched toward one another, or folded or rolled over one another, and the at least a portion of the closing component  62  can be adhered across the opposite portions of the first rim  42  to partially or fully close the first bull&#39;s eye  50 . In other examples, the at least a portion of the closing component  62  can be adhered to portions of the first rim  42  or regions of the shrink film in a vicinity of the first rim  42  such that the closing component  62  itself covers or obstructs the open area of the first bull&#39;s eye  50 . The at least a portion of the closing component  62  can be adhered to the new location on the shrink film  18  while the rest of the closing component can remain adhered to the shrink film  18  at the original location it was provided. In further examples, the entire closing component  62 , or an entire portion of the closing component (e.g., a removable top layer of the closing component), can be wholly removed from the shrink film  18  and re-adhered at a new location over the first bull&#39;s eye  50  or to regions proximate the first rim  42  to partially or fully close the first bull&#39;s eye  50 . Next, the used containers  14  ( FIG. 4 ) are placed back inside the converted shrink film  18  through the remaining open second bull&#39;s eye  54  (step  216 ). The converted shrink film  18  filled with the spent containers  14  is then grasped at the second open end  38  adjacent the open second bull&#39;s eye  54  and held aloft and transported (step  220 ). Assembled in this state, the used container case  10  can then easily be carried and transported to a recycling location, and the crushed containers  14  inside are prevented from escaping through the at least partially closed first bull&#39;s eye  50 . 
       FIG. 23  is a flow chart illustrating a method  300  for manufacturing the container case  10  including the closing component  62 . First the finished containers  14  are positioned into a matrix arrangement such as those described above (step  304 ), and then a shrink film  18  is wrapped about the containers in an expanded state (step  308 ). The shrink film  18  is provided in a tubular shape to surround the matrix of containers  14  generally on four continuous sides. Next, the shrink film  18  is contracted about the matrix of containers  14  to tightly wrap the containers  14  to maintain the matrix arrangement (step  312 ). This can be accomplished by, e.g., heating the shrink film  18  sufficiently to cause the shrink film  18  to contract. Finally, a closing component  62  is coupled to or otherwise affixed to the shrink film  18  (step  316 ). 
       FIG. 24  shows a flow chart illustrating a method  400  of recovering the spent container case  10  from the consumer for recycling by a recycling facility. A first step  404  includes providing a container case such as the container case  10  including containers  14  wrapped in shrink film  18 . A second step  408  includes providing instructions to return the containers  14  into the shrink film  18  after the containers  14  have been removed and consumed. Based on the instructions, the consumer places spent containers  14  into the shrink film  18  of the used container case  10  to form a collection. A third step  412  includes providing instructions to close the openings in the shrink film (e.g., bull&#39;s eye  50 , bull&#39;s eye  54 , and/or other openings) to secure the containers  14  within the shrink film  18 . Based on the instructions, the consumer closes the shrink film  18  to secure the spent containers  14  within for shipping. The container case  10  can be secured by closing any openings in the shrink film  18 , such as the first bull&#39;s eye  50 , the second bull&#39;s eye  54 , and/or other openings, via the closing component  62  to retain the spent containers  14  within the shrink film  18 . In a fourth step  416 , instructions are provided for creating an online recycling account. Based on the instructions, the consumer creates an online recycling account that allows the consumer to track the movement of the spent container case  10  in transit to the recycling facility. Furthermore, the online recycling account allows the consumer to receive any recycling incentives and credits from the state and/or the supplier. A fifth step  420  includes providing instructions to obtain a shipping label and visibly secure the shipping label to the used container case  10 . In some examples, the shipping label is provided with the container case  10  at the time of purchase. In other examples, the consumer can obtain the label by other means (e.g., printing the label, receiving the label by mail, etc.) before shipping the spent container case  10 . The consumer adds or links the shipping label to their online recycling account to monitor the container case  10  during transit and receive any recycling credits available (step  424 ). A seventh step  428  includes providing instructions to ship the used container case  10  to the recycling facility. Upon receiving the used container case  10  at the recycling facility, any available recycling incentives are applied to the consumer&#39;s online recycling profile (step  432 ). For example, in states with container deposit laws (i.e., “Bottle Bills”), the consumer&#39;s refundable deposit on the containers  14 , which is paid at the point of purchase, is returned to the consumer via the online recycling account upon receiving the used container case  10  at the recycling facility. The refunded deposit can then be transferred to the customer&#39;s bank account. In other examples, product coupons and/or service vouchers can be applied to the online recycling account. The online recycling account allows the consumer to receive recycling incentives electronically rather than physically (i.e., in the form of cash or printed coupons). 
     At step  408 , the consumer can convert the shrink film  18  according to method  200 , as described above, to hold the spent containers  14 . Specifically, the open area of the first bull&#39;s eye  50  can be reduced by removing at least a portion the closing component  62  from the shrink film and coupling the portion of the closing component  62  back to the shrink film  18 . Subsequently, the consumer can secure the used container case  10  for shipping by closing at least area of the second bull&#39;s eye  54 . For example, the second bull&#39;s eye  54  can be taped closed. The closing component  62  can be further secured over the first bull&#39;s eye  50  with additional securing means, such as tape. 
       FIG. 25  shows a flow chart illustrating a decentralized method  500  of recovering the spent containers  14  from the consumer for recycling by a recycling facility. The decentralized method  500  includes an intermediate step of receiving the spent containers  14  at a nearest bottling plant for large scale collection before shipping the spent containers  14  to the recycling facility. A first step  504  includes providing instructions to the consumer to enroll in a spent container recovery program. For example, the consumer can form a user account and/or take a membership in the program. Next, the consumer is instructed to collect spent containers  14  and/or used container cases  10  (step  508 ). The consumer is further instructed to ship the collection of spent containers  14  and/or used container cases  10  to the nearest bottling plant (step  512 ). For example, the spent containers  14  can be shipped to a PET bottling plant. Spent containers  14  from multiple consumers are collected at the bottling plant until a sufficient number of spent containers  14  are collected (step  516 ). When a sufficient number of spent containers  14  are collected at the bottling plant, the decentralized collection of spent containers  14  are transported to the recycling facility (step  520 ), where the spent containers  14  are recycled. 
     As shown in  FIG. 25 , the decentralized method  500  can further include intermediate steps of method  200  to convert the used container case  10  to hold the spent containers  14  and method  400  for recovering spent containers  14 , as discussed above. In reference to step  508 , the area of the first bull&#39;s eye  50  is reduced by removing at least a portion the closing component  62  from the shrink film and coupling the portion of the closing component  62  back to the shrink film  18  (as in step  212 ). The spent containers  14  are collected and then placed into the converted shrink film  18 . Step  512  can likewise include providing instructions for obtaining a shipping label and securing the shipping label to the used container case  10  (as in step  416 ). Recycling incentives can be passed to the consumer upon receipt of the spent containers by the bottling plant or upon receipt at the recycling facility. 
     Various features of the disclosure are set forth in the following claims.