Nestlé Waters expands use of 100% recycled plastic for three brands

July 17, 2020, Toronto, Ont. – Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA) has announced that three more of its U.S. domestic still water brands, Ozarka, Deer Park and Zephyrhills, have started to convert their packaging to 100-per-cent recycled plastic (rPET).

“We have made significant strides on our journey to use more sustainable packaging,” said David Tulauskas, vice president and chief sustainability officer of NWNA. “Bottles made with other bottles – like these – provide tangible proof that recycling works and the circular economy for plastics is achievable.

“By using recycled plastic, we are breathing new life into existing materials, reducing the need for new plastic and our carbon footprint, and supporting the 757,000 jobs in recycling and reuse activities in the U.S.”

With the expansion of rPET to these brands, nearly 60 per cent of all households in the U.S. will have access to one of NWNA’s regionally distributed spring water brands in bottles made entirely with recycled plastic.

By accelerating the use of rPET in its bottles, NWNA is leading the shift from virgin plastic to recycled plastic and helping to create an end-market for sustainable rPET. Using recycled plastic can help keep it out of landfills, waterways and oceans, and reduces greenhouse gases by 67 per cent compared to using new plastic.

“As we continue our brand-by-brand approach to convert our portfolio to recycled plastic packaging, we are building on the rich history of Ozarka, Deer Park and Zephyrhills and giving them new purpose,” said Yumiko Clevenger-Lee, vice president and chief marketing officer of NWNA. “By embedding sustainability into the foundation of our brands, we are able to deliver a superior product experience that also aligns with what our consumers want and what the planet needs.”

To help consumers identify the new rPET bottles, all three brands will include a new message on the labels of the 20-ounce, 700-millilitre, and one and 1.5-litre bottles, stating they are both 100-per-cent recyclable and now are also made from 100-per-cent recycled plastic.