A packaging study of orange juice aseptically packaged in bottles using different materials and filling procedures was conducted to determine their influence on the evolution of juice quality and shelf life. Glass, multilayer PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and monolayer PET bottles were used. A characterisation study including DSC thermograms, intrinsic viscosity and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photographs let identify the different material used, taking part in multi- and monolayer PET bottles for juices packaging. Monolayer PET showed the lowest retention of ascorbic acid during storage and shelf life compared with multilayer PET and glass. But if different factors, such as oxygen scavenger, liquid nitrogen drop addition in headspace during filling, aluminium foil seal in screw-cap and refrigeration temperatures, are combined with the monolayer PET bottles, orange juice shelf life can be extended and values similar to glass and multilayer PET bottles can be obtained. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.