PepsiCo to triple rPET content in its bottles throughout the EU

PepsiCo says that it aims to triple the content of recycled plastic in its bottles across the European Union by 2030, aiming to achieve 50% recycled plastic (rPET) content in its bottles by this time.

This move comes in the wake of the European Commission’s voluntary recycled plastics pledging campaign, which aims to ensure that ten million tonnes of recycled plastics are used to make new products in the EU market by 2025.

According to PepsiCo, the plans will mean that the company will use 50,000 tonnes of rPET for bottles across its European beverage range, including its Pepsi, 7Up, Tropicana and Naked brands.

In addition to the 50% by 2030 goal, PepsiCo will aim to achieve 45% rPET content in its bottles by 2025. Currently, Pepsico estimates that 13% of the plastic used by its EU beverage operations is rPET.

PepsiCo’s goal encompasses all countries which are expected to be members of the EU in 2025, but notably the target does not include the UK.

However, the company has signed up to the UK’s plastic pact, which aims to phase out the future use of single-use plastics in the country.

Silviu Popovici, president, PepsiCo Europe Sub-Saharan Africa said: “At PepsiCo, we take our responsibility to protecting the environment seriously and are steadfast in our commitment to finding sustainable ways to create our products.

“We have been on a mission in the European Union to advance a culture that encourages and supports recovery and recycling of packaging.

“Today, I am very happy to announce that we will now go much further in the use of recycled plastics in our packaging, as we work to meet and exceed this new target in the years ahead.

“Developing an effective, long-term approach to sustainable packaging requires a multifaceted effort, and PepsiCo is committed to collaborating with the many stakeholders involved to ensure it succeeds in developing a Circular Economy for plastics into the future.

“With serious under-capacity in the supply of affordable recycled plastics suitable for food packaging, we call on public and private stakeholders in the recycling system, including the European Commission, to join us and make the needed investments to expand recycling capacity.

“Provided the right progress is made on increasing packaging recovery rates, and improving reprocessing technology, we will look to go even further than our current commitment.”