PepsiCo Beverages Canada has introduced the 7UP EcoGreen™ bottle—the first soft drink bottle made from 100% recycled PET in North America, according to the company.
PepsiCo says the development of the 7UP EcoGreen bottle is a significant achievement for the company, and is a breakthrough for the Canadian beverage sector. The innovation couples existing technology with the best sources of rPET plastic and best-in-class processing techniques to produce a 100% rPET food-grade bottle that meets all regulatory requirements. Creating a 100% rPET bottle for soft drinks is more challenging than creating one for noncarbonated beverages, the company says, because of the stress on materials from carbonation pressure.
By introducing the new bottle in Canada, PepsiCo Beverages Canada says it will reduce the amount of virgin plastic used by approximately 6 million pounds over the course of one year. Studies published by the Association for Post-Consumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) in 2010, estimate this reduced use of virgin plastic will lead to a reduction of more than 30% in greenhouse gas emissions and more than 55% in energy use, based on current 7UP production levels.
“After three years of research and development, we have cracked the code to commercially develop a soft drink bottle made from 100-percent recycled PET plastic, and Canada has proudly led the way,” says 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.”
The 7UP EcoGreen bottle will be available across all 7UP and Diet 7UP package sizes beginning in early August, and will look and feel like any other PET plastic soft drink bottle—consumers will not detect a difference to the packaging, PepsiCo says.
The bottle will be produced in multiple PepsiCo manufacturing facilities across Canada. The company says it has invested $1 million in production enhancements in its facilities, including resin handling systems and inspection systems. Although there will be an incremental cost 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% recycled plastic.
