Every plastic soft drink bottle in Asahi Beverages’ range in Australia, including iconic brands such as Schweppes, Solo and Pepsi, is now made with 100% recycled plastic (excluding caps and labels).

The conversion means hundreds of millions of bottles each year are now made in Australia with repurposed plastic instead of virgin material.

Asahi Beverages Group CEO Amanda Sellers says the announcement gives Australian consumers and retailers certainty that when they purchase an Asahi-made soft drink, such as Schweppes, Solo or Pepsi Max, the plastic bottle has been more sustainably sourced.

“Around 350 million Asahi soft drink bottles each year are now made in Australia with 100% recycled plastic, as are all our Cool Ridge and Frantelle water and Cottee’s cordial bottles,” she said.

“Redesigning our supply chains this way helps secure our supply of plastic bottles into the future and makes financial sense. As Australia’s leading beverages company, we are committed to embedding sustainability into our strategy, systems and processes.”

Investing in a more circular economy

The transition was accelerated by Asahi’s investment in Container Deposit Schemes and the construction of Australia’s two largest PET plastic bottle recycling plants, as part of the Circular Plastics Australia (PET) joint venture between Asahi Beverages, Cleanaway Waste Management, Pact Group, and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.

The PET recycling plants, in Albury, NSW and Altona in Melbourne’s west, have helped deliver a significant increase in the volume of recycled plastic made in Australia and allowed Asahi to source more material for its bottles on-shore.

Australia’s Container Deposit Schemes have played a key role in significantly increasing recycling capacity, by supplying the used bottles that become feedstock for the recycling plants.

“Circular Plastics Australia (PET) and the establishment of Container Deposit Schemes by governments and the beverage industry in every state and territory are major initiatives that have helped ensure we have the raw material required to produce 100% recycled soft drink bottles,” said Ms Sellers. “By recycling old bottles so that they once again become new bottles and repeating the process, everyday Australians are helping create a more circular economy in Australia.”