USA – PepsiCo has announced packaging changes for its water brands as it looks to enhance recycled packaging content used for its products.
Its premium bottled water brand Lifewtr will use 100% recycled plastic bottles, Bubly sparkling water will no longer be packaged in plastic while the company’s Aquafina water brand will offer aluminium can packaging in U.S. food service outlets.
The changes are expected to take effect next year as a step towards a circular economy.
According to PepsiCo, the move is expected to eliminate more than 8,000 metric tons of virgin plastic and approximately 11,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
“Tackling plastic waste is one of my top priorities and I take this challenge personally,” PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta.
“As one of the world’s leading food and beverage companies, we recognize the significant role PepsiCo can play in helping to change the way society makes, uses, and disposes of plastics.
“We are doing our part to address the issue head on by reducing, recycling and reinventing our packaging to make it more sustainable, and we won’t stop until we live in a world where plastics are renewed and reused.”
Also, Naked Juice, a category leader in premium fruit and veggie juices and smoothies has been enhanced to ensure use of 100% rPET bottles.
This is the company’s latest ambitious step along its sustainability journey and an integral part of a circular economy model that will promote recycling across global markets.
It reinforces and advances PepsiCo’s goals to make 100% of its packaging recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable and use 25% recycled plastic content in all its plastic packaging by 2025.
“We are really excited to evolve our packaging across PepsiCo’s water portfolio to make a positive impact,” said Stacy Taffet, Vice President Water portfolio for PepsiCo.
“We created LIFEWTR to be an inspirational and purpose-driven brand, and we’re expanding that vision by using recycled packaging to deliver our premium water.
“At the same time, Bubly, our sparkling water brand that is full of flavor and personality, has already shaken up the sparkling water category and will continue to do so with this bold move.”
To achieve its packaging goals, PepsiCo has partnered The Recycling Partnership, Loop Industries, Alliance to End Plastic Waste, and World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), with an aim to increase recycling rates and improve the plastic recycling infrastructure.
