UAE – Agthia Group-owned Al Ain Water has launched its new water bottle made of locally produced recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), the first in the country.
Announcing the launch at the Gulfood event, Al Ain Water said that the 100% rPET bottle actively supports UAE’s transition towards a circular economy.
Alan Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Agthia Group, commented: “Plastic is a significant resource if repurposed and reused appropriately.
“We have been in active conversations with the UAE government and other stakeholders to develop a system for the collecting, recycling, and reuse of PET-based packaging.
“These efforts are bearing fruit and today Al Ain, our flagship water brand, is pioneering this initiative by introducing a 100 percent rPET bottle to the market and is actively supporting UAE’s transition towards a circular economy.”
PET is a highly recyclable plastic material, and when recycled, it becomes rPET, a strong, durable, and infinitely recyclable material commonly used for packaged foods and drinks.
Launched at Gulfood, the new 100% rPET bottle is made of post-consumer recycled plastic and is infinitely recyclable
Once reprocessed, rPET can be used to make new plastic bottles or other items. It supports the recycling industry, saves energy, and resources, and diverts these plastics from landfills.
According to Global Standards, rPET generates 75% less CO2 emissions and requires less energy compared to virgin material production, and has a better overall ecological balance than glass and single-use aluminum cans.
Smith added: “Sustainability is increasingly influencing the purchase decision in the UAE. With growing awareness, consumers are looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint and search for products that help them to achieve this.
“The fact that Al Ain is the first UAE water brand to fill this gap in the market is a true testament to its market leadership.”
The moves follow an announcement by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) that it would be regulating the trade of recycled plastic water bottles in line with top public health and food safety standards.
The decision stipulates that the recycling facility must provide documents proving its adoption of an effective quality system and good manufacturing practices for materials that contact food.
These include a report from an accredited lab in the UAE testifying that the recycled product has passed the safety test, a report indicating the compliance of the bottled water with health and safety requirements, including migration tests for packaging materials by the applicable technical regulations and regulations, and a risk assessment report for the quality and safety of recycled raw materials intended for use in bottling drinking water.
The decision also allows the use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) produced at MoIAT-approved recycling facilities that have obtained a certificate of conformity as per the UAE Regulation for Control on Food Contact Material.
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