Britvic has announced it has introduced a new 100% recycled plastic and 100% recyclable Ballygowen bottle range.
Unveiled by RTE’s Blaithnaid Treacy, the brand has undergone a complete makeover but the same refreshing water, bottled wild from the source at Newcastle West in Limerick, remains unchanged, the company said.
According to Britvic, by introducing the new bottles, Ballygowan will be removing 51 million virgin PET bottles (non-recycled), which is 1288 tonnes and replacing it with 100% recycled and 100% recyclable rPET bottles.
A further 245 tonnes of plastic will also be removed through light weighing in 2021.
When recycled correctly, the new rPET bottles can be reused over and over again, becoming a contributor to the circular economy, and resulting in a positive impact on the planet, it added.
'A More Sustainable Future'
Britvic noted that Ballygowan is committed to helping to create a more sustainable future and believes that packaging should never become waste and the recycling process should be as easy as possible for its customers.
“Ballygowan is such an iconic Irish brand and is now leading the way to a more sustainable future. We are all looking for ways to lead a more sustainable lifestyle and to be better. A simple change you can make today is by recycling correctly," said Blaithnaid Treacy.
"These bottles are not only 100% recyclable, but made from 100% recycled plastic, so make sure you pop them in the recycling bin when you’ve used them to play you part in the circular economy,” she added.
Impact on The Planet
Unlike many water brands, Ballygowan is bottled wild in Ireland, meaning it is a local choice and doesn’t travel over 1,000km to get to consumers.
“We are proud to introduce our new 100% recycled and 100% recyclable Ballygowan range. As a business, we are committed, and laser focused in our vision to become the most sustainable water brand in Ireland," said Sian Young, head of People & Planet for Britvic Ireland.
"Providing they are properly recycled, PET bottles can be a safe, efficient and environmentally-friendly form of packaging – that’s why we are committed to measures creating a ‘circular economy’ for plastic. When rPET bottles are recycled correctly, this allows us to ‘close the circle’, keeping our packaging materials in the supply chain and out of the natural environment thus having a positive impact on the planet.," he said.
Reducing Carbon Emissions
Britvic noted that some important changes have also been taking place at the factory in Newcastle West, Co Limerick, which is now powered by renewable energy and as a result, the company has reduced its carbon emissions at the Newcastle West site by over 90%.
Orlagh Geraghty, marketing manager, Ballygowan, Britvic Ireland, added, "We are incredibly proud of our heritage, and believe that this is an important step forward for our brand on the road to a sustainable future for us, and our customers."
2021 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more packaging news click here. Click sign up to subscribe to Checkout.
