PEPSICO focuses on rPET bottles and recyclates

In December 2021, production of Pepsi branded beverages in bottles made of 100% recycled plastic began. The new rPET bottle is made of used plastic packaging, which is then collected separately from yellow containers. The plastic is then segregated, processed into granules, and this into polyester fiber, from which many different products, including new beverage packaging, can be made. In this way, you can effectively provide a plastic bottle with another life cycle and at the same time reduce CO2 emissions.

Changing the type of packaging is part of the PepsiCo pep + (PepsiCo Positive) strategy, which involves a comprehensive transformation of the company's operations towards sustainable development. At the end of 2020, PepsiCo made a declaration in Poland regarding further investments in changing the production process and implementing the production of bottles made of recycled plastic (rPET). From December this year. all Pepsi, Pepsi MAX and Mirinda drinks are produced in 100% recycled bottles, and earlier, from July 2020, this packaging was also introduced for the Lipton Ice Tea brand.

As part of a joint partnership for environmental protection, PepsiCo Polska and the French hypermarket chain Auchan have set up a device for the recovery of disposable beverage packaging - plastic bottles and plastic caps. As part of a pilot project, the recycler is available to customers of the Auchan hypermarket in Piaseczno. For each returned bottle, funds will be transferred to the Piggy Bank loyalty card in the Auchan application.

The handling of the recyclate is very simple and at the same time adapted to the needs of users, including children and people with disabilities. The customer declares the type of packaging to be recycled by scanning the barcode on the bottle. Reading the correct code opens the chute and starts the packaging return cycle - the operation is completely safe thanks to infrared sensors that block the closing of the chute flap when depositing waste. The packages are weighed by an integrated scale, which verifies that the inserted package is correct and does not contain liquids. Then they go to the crusher, which significantly reduces their volume. For hygienic reasons, used packaging is decontaminated with UV-C light, thanks to which it is possible to recover clean, segregated raw material.