PepsiCo Beverages Canada has launched North America’s first soft drink bottle made from 100% recycled post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. The bottle is know as the 7UP EcoGreen bottle and is made of 100 percent recycled plastic. The formula for such a bottle has eluded other carbonated beverage companies because of the additional stress placed on the bottles from carbonation pressure.
“After three years of research and development, we have cracked the code to commercially develop a soft drink bottle made from 100% recycled PET plastic, and Canada has proudly led the way,” said Richard Glover, President, PepsiCo Beverages Canada.”Consumers want products and packaging that reflects their desire to protect the environment, and PepsiCo is committed to delivering on that with this kind of world-class innovation,” Glover said.
7UP EcoGreen bottle is the result of the successful fusion of existing technology with recycled PET plastic. The bottle meets all regulatory requirements.
By introducing the 7UP EcoGreen bottle in Canada, PepsiCo Beverages Canada claims it will be able to reduce the amount of virgin plastic used by approximately six million pounds over the course of one year. Studies published by the Association for Post-Consumer Plastic Recyclers in 2010, estimate this reduced use of virgin plastic will lead to a reduction of more than 30 percent in greenhouse gas emissions and more than 55 percent in energy use, based on current 7UP production levels.
The 7UP EcoGreen bottle went on the market across all 7UP and Diet 7UP package sizes beginning in early August, 2011. PepsiCo has said that it looks and feels like any other PET plastic soft drink bottle.
The bottle will be produced in multiple PepsiCo manufacturing facilities across Canada. The company invested US$1 million in production enhancements in its facilities, including resin handling systems and inspection systems.
Although there will be an incremental cost increase to produce the 7UP EcoGreen bottle, PepsiCo Beverages Canada plans to price 7UP beverages on par with other soft drink brands.
PepsiCo Beverages Canada’s long-term plan is to increase the use of bottles made from 100 percent recycled plastic.
© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
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