MoreThanWaste.com - Britvic to phase out re-usable bottles by 2008 (19/02/2007)

" This step change in presentation with the new NRB glass bottle will make a huge difference. The lorry journeys to and from depots will be drastically reduced; customers will be able to recycle our bottles alongside other brands; consumers will get a top quality glass bottle every time"

Nicky Milner, Brand Manager at Britvic

Britvic, the soft drinks company, is moving from returnable to recyclable glass bottles in both Britvic and Pepsi brands. This follows a general trend in the premium packed lagers and premium packaged spirits sectors. The use of returnable bottles will be phased out by the end of 2008.

Britvic has been working with Rockware Glass in the redesign of the bottles. The result is a new contemporary one-trip glass bottle satisfying the needs of on-premise consumers and the trade. The non returnable 125ml and 200ml (NRB) bottles are one hundred per cent recyclable.

Rockware has adapted its manufacturing processes in recent times to produce lighter weight bottles which are also made from a higher proportion of recycled glass. Rockware and its long term glass recycling partner, Berryman Glass, have expanded collection and cullet treatment facilities to meet increased demand.

Nicky Milner, Brand Manager, Britvic and J2O, said:
“This step change in presentation with the new NRB glass bottle will make a huge difference. The lorry journeys to and from depots will be drastically reduced; customers will be able to recycle our bottles alongside other brands; consumers will get a top quality glass bottle every time.”

Recycling and Re-use

Rockware indicates that earlier research carried out by PIRA highlights some of the key benefits of recyclable bottles for the whole supply chain.

It is interesting that recent moves by MEPs embodied a statutory version of the waste hierarchy in the current draft of the Waste Framework directive. This would place reuse as a requirement above recycling for waste materials. However there is the possibility of divergence from the hierarchy should good quality scientific evidence be produced.

Evidence to be provided may well include life cycle analyses (LCAs) that have been previously produced in this sector.

There is a combined effect here of waste prevention through light weighting together with recycling of the bottles, compared to ceasing to re-use bottles.

However it is doubtful whether the proposed directive would have much influence, at least in the short term, for producers as they are more concerned with producer responsibility and in particular here the packaging waste directive and regulations. These place emphasis on recycling and recovery with little incentive to re-use materials, even though re-use is higher up the waste hierarchy.

It is interesting to speculate that, if re-use of light weighted glass bottles was to become compulsory in the future, whether more robust versions of the bottles would quickly re-appear. We depend on science and in particular LCAs to give us the right answer.

Record glass recycling

The annual amount of glass recycled to make new bottles and jars increased to a record 756,000 tonnes in 2006 according to estimates from British Glass last month. However the rate of growth has decreased from 10% in 2005 to 1.8% in 2006.
Part of the problem may be the amount of glass being diverted into aggregate production.


	Britvic to phase out re-usable bottles by 2008 (19/02/2007) " This step change in presentation with the new NRB glass bottle will make a huge difference. The lorry journeys to and from depots will be drastically reduced; customers will be able to recycle our bottles alongside other brands; consumers will get a top quality glass bottle every time" Nicky Milner, Brand Manager at Britvic Britvic, the soft drinks company, is moving from returnable to recyclable glass bottles in both Britvic and Pepsi brands. This follows a general trend in the premium packed lagers and premium packaged spirits sectors. The use of returnable bottles will be phased out by the end of 2008. Britvic has been working with Rockware Glass in the redesign of the bottles. The result is a new contemporary one-trip glass bottle satisfying the needs of on-premise consumers and the trade. The non returnable 125ml and 200ml (NRB) bottles are one hundred per cent recyclable. Rockware has adapted its manufacturing processes in recent times to produce lighter weight bottles which are also made from a higher proportion of recycled glass. Rockware and its long term glass recycling partner, Berryman Glass, have expanded collection and cullet treatment facilities to meet increased demand. Nicky Milner, Brand Manager, Britvic and J2O, said: “This step change in presentation with the new NRB glass bottle will make a huge difference. The lorry journeys to and from depots will be drastically reduced; customers will be able to recycle our bottles alongside other brands; consumers will get a top quality glass bottle every time.” Recycling and Re-use Rockware indicates that earlier research carried out by PIRA highlights some of the key benefits of recyclable bottles for the whole supply chain. It is interesting that recent moves by MEPs embodied a statutory version of the waste hierarchy in the current draft of the Waste Framework directive. This would place reuse as a requirement above recycling for waste materials. However there is the possibility of divergence from the hierarchy should good quality scientific evidence be produced. Evidence to be provided may well include life cycle analyses (LCAs) that have been previously produced in this sector. There is a combined effect here of waste prevention through light weighting together with recycling of the bottles, compared to ceasing to re-use bottles. However it is doubtful whether the proposed directive would have much influence, at least in the short term, for producers as they are more concerned with producer responsibility and in particular here the packaging waste directive and regulations. These place emphasis on recycling and recovery with little incentive to re-use materials, even though re-use is higher up the waste hierarchy. It is interesting to speculate that, if re-use of light weighted glass bottles was to become compulsory in the future, whether more robust versions of the bottles would quickly re-appear. We depend on science and in particular LCAs to give us the right answer. Record glass recycling The annual amount of glass recycled to make new bottles and jars increased to a record 756,000 tonnes in 2006 according to estimates from British Glass last month. However the rate of growth has decreased from 10% in 2005 to 1.8% in 2006. Part of the problem may be the amount of glass being diverted into aggregate production.