UK retailer launches CSDs in 100% rPET

Supermarket group The Co-operative is claiming a UK first with the conversion of its full range of own-brand carbonated soft drinks and mixers to 100% recycled PET (rPET) bottles.

The beverages are being supplied by Silver Spring Mineral Water Company, which is based at Folkestone in the south east of England where it has its own PET bottle manufacturing and drinks production capabilities.

The company, which has the capacity to produce 250m bottles a year, has manufactured and bottled the Co-operative Group’s own brand soft drinks for the past six years.

Co-operative Group commercial packaging manager Iain Ferguson said: “Our customers have told us they want to see action on packaging, so we are delighted to be the first major retailer to roll out 100% rPET bottles across our carbonated drinks and mixers range.”

The supermarket group estimated that the move to 100% rPET bottles for the beverages, together with its own-label 330ml sportcap juice drinks, will cut CO₂emissions by 1,212tpa and replace 808 tonnes per year of virgin PET resin.

Silver Spring said that rPET currently accounts for around 15% of its capacity but will increase to 25% within the next 12 months.

Demand for rPET has soared in the UK in recent months and that has resulted in very tight availability. Silver Spring operations director David Hanlon said the company has developed strong relationships with a number of rPET suppliers to ensure it is able to meet high demand from its customers.

The Co-operative Group was voted the UK’s most ethical brand in a GfK NOP poll published in the The Financial Times in May. The supermarket group’s other recent environmental packaging initiatives include the launch of whisky in lightweight bottles.