Belu becomes first UK water company to make all plastic bottles from 100% rPET
Social enterprise and ethical water company, Belu, has announced that it will become the first water company in the UK to make 100% of its plastic bottles from 100% rPET.
CEO Karen Lynch comments: “We have come to the conclusion that where the single use can’t be removed, the answer to our anti-plastics challenge, is in fact, plastic. Our message is to first use less, but when you buy bottles, buy better”, and continues “If you must use a single-use bottle, the kindest thing you can do for the planet is to choose a bottle made from 100% recycled plastic, and not a can or carton.”
The company intends to reduce carbon emissions and other pollutants when making bottles from 100% recycled plastic, and to further create demand and value for recycled plastic bottles which is stated to lead to fuel investment for better local recycling infrastructure.
“By moving to manufacturing 100% recycled PET plastic, Belu estimates that it will generate about 60% less carbon emissions than a comparable virgin bottle and about half that of a typical aluminium can (which contains 70-73% recycle content). While cartons are closer in emissions, other environmental impacts become more significant. A standard 500ml carton still contains 35% plastic and 5% aluminium foil. Special processes are often needed to recycle them, and collection avenues are limited across the country meaning only 37% of UK cartons are recycled. When we looked at cartons we found that complexities of materials mean that these products cannot be part of the circular economy we so firmly believe in “, states Lynch.
“While some of the big water companies have trialed individual products made from 100% recycled plastic, there has been no commitment to making this part of their wider business, instead these lines have been given limited distribution.
From November 2019, Belu has committed to make 100% of their plastic bottles from 100% recycled plastic bottles.
Belu is a social enterprise that provides hotels, restaurants and catering providers with natural British mineral water, filtration systems and refillable bottles. As an ethical water company, they give 100% of profits to the charity WaterAid to help transform lives worldwide with clean water.
