Asahi Beverages is converting all plastic soft drink bottles in Australia to 100 percent recycled plastic. According to the beverage manufacturer, around 350 million bottles a year will thus be produced from recyclate instead of virgin plastic.
The transition covers the entire soft drink range of Asahi Beverages in Australia. This includes brands such as Schweppes, Solo and Pepsi. Caps and labels are excluded. According to the company, the water bottles of the Cool Ridge and Frantelle brands as well as the bottles for Cottee’s Cordial are also already made entirely of recycled plastic.
Recycling capacity expanded in Australia
According to Asahi, a basis for the transition is the expansion of Australian PET recycling capacities. The company is involved in the Circular Plastics Australia (PET) joint venture alongside Cleanaway Waste Management, Pact Group, and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
„Circular Plastics Australia (PET) and the introduction of container deposit schemes by governments and the beverage industry across all states and territories are key initiatives that have helped ensure we have the necessary raw materials to manufacture soft drink bottles from 100 percent recycled plastic.“
Asahi-Beverages-CEO Amanda Sellers
The joint venture operates PET recycling plants in Albury in the state of New South Wales and in Altona in the west of Melbourne. This has significantly increased the amount of recycled plastic available in Australia. Asahi can accordingly source more material for its bottles domestically.
Another role is played by the Australian container deposit schemes for beverage packaging. The used bottles collected there serve as raw material for recycling plants and are thus intended to support the circular economy of PET.
Source: Asahi Beverages
