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Bacardi and Amcor team up for recyclable packaging
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Plastic containers are often associated with pollution and lack of recycling, but the truth is that not all plastics are harmful to the Earth. Amcor PET Packaging and Bacardi have collaborated to use plastic containers that are more environmentally friendly. Bacardi Canada, in instituting official Bacardi Environment policy, is now packing its popular line of Bacardi Breezer rum drinks in Amcor’s patented PET bottles, replacing the glass bottles Bacardi formerly used. But how are these plastic containers more environmentally friendly than glass?
Amcor is a leading pioneer in PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) plastic packaging. PET is a strong and lightweight form of plastic ideal for soft drinks, juices, alcoholic drinks, water, edible oils, and household cleaners. Since PET is so strong, the material can withstand the high pressure of carbonated soft drinks with no deformation of its shape. But best of all, PET is 100% recyclable. PET bottles can be recycled into textile fibers for polar fleece, carpets, and non-woven products. Amcor is also ramping up “bottle to bottle” recycling, and projects a 30% increase in the reuse of its PET bottles over the coming years.
Bacardi, with its popular Bacardi Breezer drinks, is taking advantage of Amcor’s PET technology. Bacardi environmental policy dictates that Bacardi must measure the carbon footprint of its processes. “Bacardi asked us to take a look at their data, having seen information about some of the studies we’ve done,” said David Clark, Amcor PET director of sustainability. Clark went on to say that PET containers are initially creating a 22% reduction in bottle production.
PET environmental savings also come from its light weight. Bacardi now works with much lighter cases of bottles; a case of PET Bacardi Breezer bottles weighs a manageable 9.9 kilograms, as compared to a bulky 14.7 kilograms for a container of glass Bacardi Breezer bottles.
Bacardi’s decision to switch over to PET bottles for its Bacardi Breezers has drawn praise from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, which distributes alcoholic beverages in 600 retail outlets. The provincial liquor board has noted that PET containers have reduced waste of these kinds of bottles by an impressive 90%. “We are pleased to see more alternative packaging like the Breezer PET containers,” said Chris Layton, LCBO Media Relations coordinator. “We encourage more companies to follow BACARDI Canada’s example.”
Bacardi and Amcor have done their part in putting recyclable plastic into production; now it’s up to Bacardi Breezer drinkers to make sure their Bacardi Breezer empties end up in recycling bins, not a landfill. Have a good time, drink responsibly, and recycle that bottle!
Article Source: Bacardi Breezer captures consumer appeal with Amcor PET (Labeling Blog)
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