Otsuka Pharmaceutical begins rollout of 100% rPET bottles
Japanese company Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. will begin a nationwide rollout of PET bottle containers made from 100% recycled PET resin from late January this year. As a result, more than 90% (by number of bottles) of the company’s PET bottle beverage products will use containers made entirely from recycled PET resin (as estimated based on Otsuka’s 2026 production plan). This initiative is expected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 5,300 t.
Under the Otsuka Group Plastics Statement, the company is working to eliminate the use of fossil resource-derived materials and prevent the discharge of waste into nature. In the Nutraceuticals-related business, Otsuka began offering label-free bottles in 2021 and PET bottles using recycled PET resin in 2022, alongside ongoing efforts to reduce container weight.
Additionally, to promote bottle-to-bottle horizontal recycling, using collected PET bottles as raw materials for new PET bottles, the company has concluded resource-circulation agreements with 30 local governments nationwide in Japan, including Tokushima Prefecture, where the Otsuka group originated. The company also collaborates with communities and organisations to promote bottle-to-bottle recycling through awareness-raising activities and the collection and recycling of used PET bottles at large-scale events such as international sports competitions and outdoor music festivals.