Better Bottles

A majority of DASANI bottles in the United States—from 20oz and 1.5-liter singles to 10oz and 12oz multipacks—will be offered in 100% recycled plastic* rolling out this summer. The shift supports both DASANI’s pledge to remove the equivalent of 2 billion virgin plastic bottles from production by 2027 compared to 2021 levels and the company’s World Without Waste goal to use at least 50% recycled material in its bottles and cans by 2030.

Demand for rPET currently exceeds supply, so the first step to scaling up use of 100% rPET across our portfolio is building a sustainable pipeline of high-quality material,” said Chris Vallette, Senior Vice President of Technical Innovation and Stewardship, Coca-Cola North America. “We do this by working with communities to boost PET recycling and collection; collaborating with recycling partners; and, finally, securing rPET to help ensure the material for our bottles is used again and again.

Sprite, meanwhile, is shifting all of plastic PET packaging from its signature green color to clear, beginning Aug. 1. Although green PET is recyclable, the recycled material is more often converted into single-use items like clothing and carpeting that cannot be recycled into new PET bottles. During the sorting process, green and other colored PET is separated from clear material to avoid discoloring recycled food-grade packaging required to make new PET bottles.

*Excluding caps and labels

Upcycled Certified

Introduced in Summer 2021, Del Monte Fruit Infusions provide a full serving of fruit and are rich in antioxidant vitamin C. Made with real fruit juice, they do not contain added sugar, artificial sweeteners, artificial certified colors or GMO (genetically modified organism) ingredients.

Last year Del Monte Foods announced the industry's first canned vegetable product to be Upcycled Certified by the Upcycled Food Association. The company's Del Monte® Blue Lake® Petite Cut and Blue Lake® Farmhouse Cut Green Bean products are 100% upcycled and sustainably grown green beans from Wisconsin and Illinois.

Fiber-Based Bottle

The pilot involves 8,000 fiber bottles sampled in eight Western European markets: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, United Kingdom, Poland, Germany and France. The bottles will be placed into the hands of local consumers, customers and other stakeholders through select festivals and flagship events, as well as targeted product samplings.

Officials say a “significant milestone” involves the bottle’s plant-based PEF polymer lining. PEF is made entirely from natural raw materials, is compatible with plastic recycling systems, and can degrade into nature should it end up outside national recycling systems. Beyond its sustainable packaging benefits, Carlsberg says PEF functions as a highly effective barrier between the beer and the fiber outer shell, protecting the taste and fizziness of the beer better than conventional PET plastic.

The outer shell of the bottle consists of sustainably-sourced wood fibre and is also bio-based. Officials say this shell has the added benefit of insulative properties which can help keep beer colder for longer, compared to cans or glass bottles.

Last but not least, Carlsberg also says it has brewed a beer with barley that has been cultivated using fully organic and regenerative agricultural practices.

A-Peeling Summer Snack

RIND says it uses upcycled, rescued produce and retains a fruit's natural, nutrient-rich skin through a proprietary, low-heat dehydration process. With rapid growth and distribution, RIND is on track to divert over one million pounds of edible food waste from landfills this year, officials say.

Each 3oz bag of RIND Peach Chips contains healthy sources of vitamins A and C, as well as 9g of fiber per bag and only 100 calories per serving. Peach Chips, like all of RIND®'s products, contain no added sugars or preservatives and are naturally vegan, gluten-free, Kosher certified and non-GMO verified.

"The time was ripe for a bolder, fresher take on fruit snacking – one that is better aligned with consumers' preferences for pure, whole fruit with big, bright flavor," noted Matt Weiss, RIND®'s founder & CEO. "The idea of taking one of the most beloved staples of summer, like yellow peaches, and creating a tangy, thin-cut chip was there for the picking! We're thrilled to be partnering with the online leader in sustainable, healthy and affordable shopping, Thrive Market, for our first-ever exclusive launch."

rPET Bottles

Officials say Filippo Berio USA is the first in the U.S. olive oil category to introduce a recyclable bottle made from 50% recycled plastic (rPET).

"Consumers are increasingly seeking out products with recycled and recyclable packaging," said Marco de Ceglie, CEO of Filippo Berio USA, "and we hope others in the sector will join us in supporting the transition to a circular economy. We all need to do our part to minimize our environmental impact, and we're proud to take another step forward in this process of continuous improvement."