Because a PET bottle can only be recycled if the consumer has removed the label, FrieslandCampina's Research & Development department has also developed a new "zipper" that makes it easier to separate from the bottle.
This makes FrieslandCampina the first company in the dairy sector to make its bottles virtually circular for its brands in the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK and Hungary.
Patrick van Baal, global director packaging development at FrieslandCampina, said, “With the 100% recycled PET bottle, FrieslandCampina is taking a new step in making its packaging circular. Our ambition is to become fully circular. That is why we are increasing the recycled content of our PET bottles from 20% to 100%. This step is crucial because in order to achieve our sustainability goals, all packaging must first become recyclable and/or reusable.”
One of the objectives of FrieslandCampina's sustainability program "Nourishing a better planet" is to make the entire packaging portfolio fully circular and carbon neutral and to reduce the amount of packaging materials to a minimum as well.
Five years ago, FrieslandCampina made the decision to switch to PET for all its drinking bottles, because PET can potentially be made fully circular. In addition, unlike glass, it is lightweight and has a low carbon footprint. By making all new PET bottles from old PET bottles, FrieslandCampina said it will be preventing the production of nearly 1.9m kilos of new plastic.