Britvic has joined forces with other global businesses to promote a “ground-breaking” recycling technology that aims to help bring about a circular economy for plastics.
The new technology is called BP Infinia and means opaque and difficult to recycle PET plastic waste can be made into new plastic again and again, with no loss in quality. The new cross-industry consortium announced it will work together to make BP Infinia mainstream.
The consortium also includes packaging and recycling specialist ALPLA; consumer goods firms Danone and Unilever; waste management and recycling specialist REMONDIS; and petrochemicals producer BP.
It is claimed that BP Infinia has the potential to “revolutionise” the plastic packaging industry and prevent millions of tonnes of plastic from entering landfill. BP is already investing $25m in the technology and, as part of the consortium pushing for the technology’s adoption, Britvic will contribute to the creation of a “practical business model to ensure its successful adoption”.
Trystan Farnworth, Director of Sustainability at Britvic, commented: “To truly reinvent Britvic’s packaging, we must innovate with new low-impact packaging. This consortium is a cornerstone to delivering that pledge.
“A challenge in creating a truly circular economy for PET is the fact that, as it stands, it is not infinitely recyclable. We have to solve this to become truly circular – it is not an option.
“That’s why we are excited to announce our active role in the consortium, collaborating to achieve a circularity breakthrough for the benefit of all our stakeholders.”
The soft drinks supplier has already taken a number of steps to reduce the impact of its own packaging. Since 2017, it has removed more than 1,500 tonnes of plastic from its supply chain; 100% of its plastic bottles, glass bottles and cans are recyclable; and the company is a founding signatory of The UK Plastics Pact.
