Today, Britvic announces its intent for all plastic bottles in GB to be made from 100% recycled plastic (rPET) by the end of 2022 – three years earlier than originally planned, and ahead of the previous target of 50%. This will cover the entire GB portfolio of Britvic-owned and PepsiCo brands, and demonstrates both companies’ commitment to sustainability and to a healthier planet.
This is the latest in a series of sustainable business measures, including Britvic’s recent move in Ireland to rPET for Ballygowan 500ml bottles and Fruit Shoot Hydro switching to 100% rPET in September.
More broadly, Britvic recognises its role in reducing the environmental impact of its packaging and is committed to creating a world where packaging never becomes waste. As a founding signatory of The UK Plastics Pact, the business has already removed more than 1,500 tonnes of primary plastic from its supply chain since 2017 – and all its primary packaging is already fully recyclable.
Britvic recognises the responsibility it has in helping create a circular economy. In 2019, the company entered into a long-term agreement with Esterform Packaging Limited, the UK largest convertor of PET, for the supply of recycled plastic. Alongside the agreement, Britvic provided a £5m investment support package for the construction of new state-of-the-art rPET manufacturing facilities, to be powered by 100% renewable energy sources, at their site in North Yorkshire. In 2019, Britvic joined a cross-industry consortium to promote a ground-breaking recycling technology called BP Infinia that allows opaque and difficult to recycle PET plastic waste can be made into new plastic again and again.
Paul Graham, Managing Director of Britvic GB said: “This is a significant moment for Britvic and our partnership with PepsiCo, demonstrating our commitment to protecting the planet for us and future generations. Our intent to move to 100% recycled plastic, along with our investment support package in the Esterform Packaging Limited announced last year will help create a truly sustainable circular economy for plastic.”
Sarah Webster, Director of Sustainable Business at Britvic commented: “Sustainability and our ‘Healthier People, Healthier Planet’ agenda sits at the heart of our business strategy. We want to be a net positive contributor to the people and the world around us, and we’re committed to minimising waste and using resources in a sustainable way across our business. Accelerating this move to 100% rPET is the right next step for Britvic to help reduce our impact on the planet.
“Meaningful change cannot be achieved by business alone however, it requires a suite of solutions, which is why we support the swift introduction of a well-designed GB-wide deposit return scheme, and reform of the current producer responsibility system, to create the required investment in UK recycling infrastructure.”
Silviu Popovici, CEO PepsiCo Europe said: “PepsiCo and Britvic share a vision of creating a circular economy on plastic packaging, and building a world where plastic need never become waste. In support of this ambition, we are very pleased to announce that all of our brands, produced under our exclusive bottling agreement in Great Britain, will be bottled in 100% recycled PET by the end of 2022.”
