A year after Japan-based Suntory Beverage & Food announced its £13m investment in Lucozade Ribena Suntory’s Coleford factory, the company has launched its new energy and water-efficient production line.
The high-speed bottling line can fill 55,000 bottles an hour and will be used for its products such as Lucozade and Ribena.
The new line forms part of Suntory’s global sustainability strategy by reducing the amount of water and energy used during the manufacturing process. The company claims that producing a bottle on the new line requires 40% less energy and water than the previous line. This is due to innovations such as new dry aseptic technology, which uses heat and pressurised air instead of water to clean bottles before they are filled.
The company highlighted that the investment has also sets Lucozade Ribena Suntory up for future success as the additional capacity for bottle production allows the factory to evolve alongside consumer tastes.
Carol Robert, Chief Operating Officer at Lucozade Ribena Suntory commented: “The launch of this production line is significant for us and forms part of our ‘Growing for Good’ vision. It’s fantastic to have been able to invest £13m in this line and to deliver a 40% reduction in the energy and water required to make each bottle. In doing so, we are making an important commitment to both the environment and our consumers.
“This investment is a vote of confidence by Suntory Beverage & Food in our UK and Gloucestershire operations, ensuring our factory in Coleford continues to be a best-in-class facility for years to come.”
