Asahi Beverages has switched its Australian soft drink bottles to rPET, covering brands including Schweppes, Solo and Pepsi.
The change applies across the company’s Australian soft drink range, with around 350 million bottles per year now made using 100 per cent rPET rather than virgin resin.
Asahi said the move has been supported by investment in deposit return schemes (DRSs) and the development of two PET bottle recycling facilities operated through the Circular Plastics Australia (PET) joint venture.
Domestic supplies
The joint venture brings Asahi together with Cleanaway Waste Management, Pact Group and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. Its two recycling facilities are located in Albury, New South Wales, and Altona, Victoria.
The facilities have increased domestic supplies of rPET and enabled Asahi to source more bottle material within Australia. DRSs have also contributed used bottles as feedstock for recycling.
Amanda Sellers, chief executive of Asahi Beverages Group, said the change means consumers and retailers can expect Asahi-made soft drinks including Schweppes, Solo and Pepsi Max to be sold in bottles made from rPET.
‘Financial sense’
She said around 350 million Asahi soft drink bottles produced in Australia each year are now made with 100 per cent rPET. The company also uses 100 per cent rPET for its Cool Ridge and Frantelle water bottles and Cottee’s cordial bottles.
She added: “Redesigning our supply chains this way helps secure our supply of plastics bottles into the future and makes financial sense. As Australia’s leading beverage company, we are committed to embedding sustainability into our strategy, systems and processes.
“Circular Plastics Australia (PET) and the establishment of DRSs by governments and the beverage industry in every state and territory are major initiatives that have helped ensure we have the raw material required to produce 100 per cent recycled soft drink bottles.”
