Like other big bottled water brands such as The Coca-Cola Company, Evian, and Nestlé Waters, Fiji Water is now using PET bottles made entirely from recycled materials. The first packages to make the switch are its 330- and 500-mL sizes in the U.S.
In switching to rPET bottles, Fiji Water will make almost 65% of its bottled water from recycled materials. This change is part of a broader initiative the company started in 2019 to reduce plastic use and support a circular economy. Among other strategies, the plan calls for the use of 100% rPET in all its bottles by 2025. Other sizes include 700 mL, 1 L, and 1.5 L.
Recycled PET breathes new life into existing materials
“In our transition to recycled plastic, our intention is to make a truly meaningful and lasting environmental impact,” says Clarence Chia, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Fiji Water. “We are using recycled plastic to breathe new life into existing materials, while maintaining Fiji Water’s same great taste, look, and quality that consumers come to expect from Earth’s Finest Water.”
Chia says that Fiji Water will keep setting ambitious goals to boost innovation and enhance its sustainability efforts, and is excited to build on this progress.
According to the company, the switch to rPET bottles not only reduces plastic waste, but also can reduce CO2 emissions in the process. Some studies show that rPET can decrease carbon emissions by 79% when compared to new material.
Fiji Water has also invested about $2.5 million in energy efficiency projects on the Fijian islands where the water is sourced. These include the use of micro-turbine energy generation and the adoption of the low-sulfur fuel standard for all shipping to decrease sulfur oxide emissions. PW
