Asahi to use recycled material for all plastic soft drink bottles

Asahi Beverages has announced that it has transitioned all of its plastic soft drink bottles in Australia to 100% recycled plastic, including brands such as Schweppes, Solo and Pepsi. The conversion means hundreds of millions of bottles each year are now made in Australia with repurposed plastic instead of virgin material.

“This announcement gives Australian consumers and retailers certainty that when they purchase an Asahi-made soft drink, such as Schweppes, Solo or Pepsi Max, that the plastic bottle has been more sustainably sourced,” said Asahi Beverages Group CEO Amanda Sellers. “Around 350 million Asahi soft drink bottles each year are now made in Australia with 100% recycled plastic, as are all our Cool Ridge and Frantelle water and Cottee’s cordial bottles.

“Redesigning our supply chains this way helps secure our supply of plastic bottles into the future and makes financial sense.”

The company says the transition was accelerated by its investment in container deposit schemes and the construction of what it says are Australia’s two largest PET plastic bottle recycling plants, as part of the Circular Plastics Australia (PET) joint venture between Asahi Beverages, Cleanaway Waste Management, Pact Group and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.

Australia’s Container Deposit Schemes have played a key role in significantly increasing recycling capacity, by supplying the used bottles that become feedstock for the recycling plants.

“Circular Plastics Australia (PET) and the establishment of container deposit schemes 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% recycled soft drink bottles. By recycling old bottles so that they once again become new bottles and repeating the process, everyday Australians are helping create a more circular economy in Australia,” Sellers added.

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