Britvic commits US$1.1m a year to UK recycling infrastructure

09 Aug 2018 --- Britvic – the UK’s largest supplier of soft drinks – has announced investments of £850,000 (US$1,090,000) a year in UK recycling infrastructure through its commitment to only purchase domestic Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs) from UK recyclers. Britvic signed up to a new partnership with environmental compliance experts Comply Direct in January 2018. Since then, Britvic has not purchased any export recovery notes (known as PERNs), which are generated by UK exporters and therefore encourage the export of waste abroad. Instead, Britvic has chosen to only buy PRNs from UK recyclers meaning Britvic’s £850,000 (US$1,090,000) payment obligation is now being invested solely in the UK’s recycling industry.

Britvic’s decision to support UK recycling infrastructure is driven by the company’s commitment to protect the environment and support a more circular economy. The current PRN system is set up in a way that means it’s easier and more profitable to export waste abroad. Consequently, 67 percent of plastic packaging waste is sent overseas from the UK where there is less visibility over what happens to the materials and where they could leak into the environment, according to UK Environment Agency data. Britvic is working constructively with government and wider stakeholders to push for reform of the PRN system. Until there is clarity on this reform, Britvic is taking early action.

Alison Rothnie, Senior Sustainability Manager at Britvic explains: “We understand the environmental impact packaging can have at the end of its life, and we are committed to playing our part to reduce this. By committing to only buy PRNs from UK recyclers, we are investing in better recycling infrastructure in the UK, helping to ensure more waste is recycled here where we can track its progress, and creating a stronger supply of recycled PET (rPET) which is a crucial part of developing a truly sustainable circular economy.”

Sarah Foster, Commercial Manager at Comply Direct and Britvic’s Account Manager adds: “We are very proud to work with Britvic in such changing and often challenging times and we support their commitment to the UK environment.”

Britvic’s commitment to effective recycling is part of a broader packaging strategy which ensures that: 100 percent of all Britvic PET bottles are recyclable; the amount of material used in each bottle is minimized (the company removed 308 tons of plastic packaging in 2017 by moving products onto new bottling lines and accessing lighter weight bottles); Britvic works with customers and independent organizations to encourage consumers to recycle; and Britvic invests in R&D to identify alternative sustainable materials to package products. Britvic has also committed to using 15 percent rPET across its brand portfolio by 2020, following successful trials in 2017.

The packaging strategy is an important part of Britvic’s sustainability programme, “A Healthier Everyday,” which puts healthier people, healthier communities and a healthier planet at the heart of its business. The programme builds on the company’s commitment to help consumers make healthier choices, support the well-being of communities, and help secure our planet’s future.

Alongside Britvic’s sustainability programme, the company joined forces earlier this year with UK retailers, manufacturers, recyclers and NGOs to sign The UK Plastics Pact; a pioneering agreement which aims to transform the plastic packaging system in the UK and keep plastic in the economy and out of the ocean.

The UK Plastics Pact was launched by sustainability experts WRAP to address the growing issue of plastic waste. It is a unique and bold collaboration which brings together businesses from across the entire plastics value chain with the UK government and NGOs to set ambitious targets. Britvic is one of 42 businesses signing up to the Pact.

The Pact’s members have committed to achieving a series of ambitious targets by 2025:

• Eliminate problematic or unnecessary single-use plastic packaging through redesign, innovation or alternative (re-use) delivery models.
• 100 percent of plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable.
• 70 percent of plastic packaging effectively recycled or composted.
• 30 percent average recycled content across all plastic packaging.

Britvic is a leading soft drinks company, with operations in Great Britain (GB), Ireland, France and Brazil. Across these four markets, the company has developed a strong portfolio of its own iconic brands, including Robinsons, Tango, J2O, drench, MiWadi, Ballygowan, Teisseire, Fruité, Maguary and DaFruta. In addition, in GB and Ireland, the company produces and sells a number of PepsiCo’s soft drinks brands, including Pepsi, 7UP, SoBe and Mountain Dew, under exclusive agreements with PepsiCo.

Britvic is the largest supplier of branded still soft drinks and the number two supplier of branded carbonated soft drinks in GB, and it is an industry leader in Ireland and France. Through franchising, export and licensing, Britvic has also been growing its reach into other territories, particularly the US.