Levissima, part of Gruppo Sanpellegrino, has launched mineral water bottles made with 100% recycled PET plastic (rPET) in Italy.
The launch is part of the brand's ongoing commitment to a more sustainable world and achieving a circular economy.
The first bottles of natural mineral water made from 100% recycled PET plastic include 0.75- and 1-litre non-carbonated formats.
Earlier, Levissima launched the bio-based PET in the non-alcoholic drinks segment in Italy.
New Legislation
The use of up to 100% recycled PET bottles and tubs for food use is now possible after a new Italian legislation came into force in January 2021, extending the existing limit set at 50%.
The term rPET refers to a polymer obtained through the recovery and recycling of used PET.
The material is identical in terms of quality, safety and resistance to traditional PET and can also be recycled almost infinitely.
It allows lowering of CO2 footprint during the production process, with 1 tonne of rPET saving five barrels of oil or 1.6 tonnes of CO2.
Levissima was the first company in Italy to use recycled PET with La Litro packed in 25% rPET bottles in 2010. In July 2020, it launched five SKUs packaged in 30% rPET.
Gruppo Sanpellegrino is a member of Coripet, the consortium of bottlers, converters and recyclers.
Recycling
The consortium deals with collecting and recycling PET bottles into new bottles and reintroducing used plastics into the production cycle through a circular economy or what it describes as a 'bottle to bottle' approach.
Gruppo Sanpellegrino has pledged to switch to 50% recycled PET across its entire product range by 2025.
The group's brands, Levissima and Acqua Panna have set the goal to use 50% rPET in all bottles within the same timeframe.
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
