PepsiCo Launches 100% Locally Recycled Plastic Bottles in UAE
Snack and beverage giant PepsiCo is introducing 100% recycled plastic bottles in the UAE for its Cola soft drink brands Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, and Pepsi Zero Sugar.
With COP28 UAE just around the corner (30 November – 12 December, 2023), the US-based company is paving way for the integration of fully recycled, locally produced packaging in the Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSD) category as a first in the UAE.
Generating over 30% less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to traditional PET bottles, the new bottles play a pivotal role in reducing global emissions and climate change. Minus the cap and label, the bottle is produced using recycled, reprocessed, and repurposed plastic that meets globally certified quality and safety standards.
PepsiCo has also become an active partner across the plastics value chain in the Emirates by collaborating with various stakeholders to innovate packaging solutions, enhance recycling infrastructure, and educate consumers about the benefits of recycling and sustainable alternatives.
Advocating for progressive reforms, PepsiCo, in 2022, drove rPET regulatory approvals in 12 countries across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, and introduced 100% recycled bottles in six countries, including GCC countries Kuwait and Qatar.
Aamer Sheikh, CEO, PepsiCo Middle East, says, “More consumers are considering sustainable product options, conscious of the environmental impact when deciding what they buy. We’re proud to be the UAE’s first CSD brand to launch locally produced fully recycled plastic bottles, and thanks to the scale and expertise of Dubai Refreshment, we’re able to give consumers a better choice in enjoying their favourite beverages.”
“This is only a single step in the journey towards circular economy and more needs to be done to empower consumers to act, by establishing partnerships across the value chain. Better access to recycling infrastructure and ongoing consumer education plays an important role in shaping positive behaviour. We will continue to prioritize efforts across these areas simultaneously to boost recycling rates as we inch closer to COP28 later this year,” adds Sheikh.
Ahmad Alserkal, Chairman of Dubai Refreshment PJSC, the exclusive bottler and distributor of PepsiCo beverages in Dubai, Sharjah, and the Northern Emirates, comments, “We’re proud to lead way in producing fully recycled packaging for CSDs. The UAE is taking major steps towards a more sustainable future, and we’re committed to being an equally contributing partner in this journey alongside PepsiCo. With better choices, we encourage consumers to opt for sustainable packaging, paving a greener path for future generations.”
As part of the company’s 2021 PepsiCo Positive (pep+) strategy, PepsiCo aims to achieve net zero emissions across its value chain by 2040 and reduce usage of virgin plastic by 50% across its global F&B portfolio by 2030. PepsiCo has also implemented 100% rPET beverage packaging in 26 other international markets. Ending 2022, over 88% of PepsiCo’s packaging was biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, or reusable.
