Danone Waters closes in on 100% recycled plastic and carbon-neutral goals in the UK

Danone Waters UK is also working to achieve B Corp accreditation by the end of 2020

Danone Waters UK has revealed that 100% recycled PET will be used for Evian bottles from April 2020, bringing the amount of recycled plastic across the Evian range to 70% globally.

Evian’s 2025 ambition includes pledges to use 100% recycled content in its plastic packaging and to work with the waste management sector to ensure 100% recyclability. The firm is also exploring refill offerings, having recently piloted a refillable in-home water appliance and a range of glass bottles designed in partnership with Virgil Abloh.

To build on these aims, Evian is actively supporting the implementation of a Deposit Return Scheme for plastics in the UK. Globally, the brand is collaborating with external partners such as Loop, Hubbub and The Ocean Cleanup Project to help create a second life for plastic bottles.

Danone Waters isn’t just focusing on plastics. Both Evian and Volvic are currently being assessed by the Carbon Trust as carbon neutral to the international standard PAS 2060, in a bid to assist with an overarching ambition towards carbon neutrality across Europe by 2025.

Danone Waters UK is also working to achieve B Corp accreditation by the end of 2020, ahead of global certification set for 2022.

“Reducing our impact on the planet has always been at the heart of what we do at Danone, through our dual project for social and environmental progress as part of building a sustainable business. The challenges of plastic pollution and climate change that we face are more pressing than ever, therefore we need to accelerate the actions to reduce our footprint,” Danone Waters UK managing director James Pearson said.

“Today we are announcing two specific actions in our journey: firstly, from April, Evian will use 100% recycled plastic in its best-selling formats; secondly, both Evian and Volvic brands are being assessed by the Carbon Trust to become carbon neutral in 2020. We are also taking actions that I hope will enable us to be B Corp certified by the end of the year.”

With a new WaterAid report emerging today revealing that half of all countries receive less than £4 per person, per year, to spend on climate mitigation and adaptation, Danone has also taken steps to improve its approach to water stewardship.

Globally, Danone has introduced a pledge to match every litre of water sold with a litre for people considered “in need”, setting up a dedicated fund to ensure that 50 million people in developing countries have access to safe drinking water by 2030. Danone has also committed to watershed and wetlands preservation globally.

Matt Mace

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