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Slowly, slowly, global leaders and their willing communities are determining plastics are a thing of the past. And the world is going to look better for it.
PepsiCo recently announced that it’ll start using more sustainable packaging for its water brands in the next coming year. LIFEWTR, one of the products under the conglomerate’s umbrella, will arrive in containers that are made out of 100 percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Aquafina and Bubly will shed their outer plastic layer for aluminum cans.
The changes could prevent more than 8,000 metric tons and around 11,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from permeating our environment and causing further damage.
Why make the switch to aluminum? A 2017 EPA report found that consumers recycle aluminum cans nearly 2x more often than plastic bottles. Metal cans are also composed of 70 percent recycled materials, while plastic bottles use around three percent.
PepsiCo’s latest initiative supports their goal of making 100 percent of their packaging recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable, as well as use plastics with at least 25 percent recycled materials by 2025. The brand is also working with suppliers and partners such as The Recycling Partnership, Alliance to End Plastic Waste, Loop Industries, and the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP).
Stacy Taffet, Vice President Water portfolio for PepsiCo, said she hopes the move will inspire other brands to seek sustainable solutions.
“We are really excited to evolve our packaging across PepsiCo’s water portfolio to make a positive impact,” she said. “We created LIFEWTR to be an inspirational and purpose-driven brand, and we’re expanding that vision by using recycled packaging to deliver our premium water. At the same time, Bubly, our sparkling water brand that is full of flavor and personality, has already shaken up the sparkling water category and will continue to do so with this bold move.”
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