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★Mark us as a preferred sourceIn a major milestone for circular packaging, Asahi Beverages has officially transitioned its Australian-manufactured soft drink bottles to 100% recycled plastic (rPET). The initiative removes thousands of tonnes of virgin plastic annually from the supply chain.
Recycled plastic bottles: Driving circular packaging innovation
The adoption of recycled plastic bottles has reached a decisive turning point across the beverage industry. Asahi Beverages announced that all of its single-serve and sharing size soft drink bottles manufactured in Australia—specifically the 450ml, 600ml, and 1.25L formats—are now made from 100% recycled PET (excluding caps and labels).
The transition covers major beverage brands in the portfolio, such as Schweppes, Solo, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and Sunkist. By replacing fossil-fuel-based virgin plastic with high-grade food-contact rPET, hundreds of millions of bottles each year are diverted into a closed-loop system.
Key Data, Volumes, and Environmental Reductions
The transition delivers concrete, measurable reductions in packaging material impact:
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Over 20,000 tonnes diverted: Combined industry investments and full-scale operational changes eliminate tens of thousands of tonnes of virgin plastic production over time.
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Hundreds of millions of units: The policy directly applies to high-volume convenience and retail sizes, ensuring maximum scale and market reach.
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Exclusions and total recyclability: While bottle bodies are strictly 100% rPET, bottle caps and labels are currently excluded from the 100% rPET makeup due to technical resin requirements, though they remain fully recyclable within standard collection streams.
The structural, hygienic, and barrier properties of the recycled plastic bottles match virgin polymers, ensuring product integrity while significantly reducing lifecycle carbon emissions.
Local Processing Infrastructure: Circular Plastics Australia
This supply chain transformation is underpinned by direct investment in local remanufacturing infrastructure. Through Circular Plastics Australia (PET)—a joint venture between Asahi Beverages, Pact Group, Cleanaway Waste Management, and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners—dedicated processing plants were established in Albury-Wodonga (NSW) and Altona North (Victoria).
Each facility has the capacity to process approximately 1 billion 600ml PET bottles per year. Feedstock is collected directly from local kerbside recycling bins and state Container Deposit Schemes (CDS), creating a genuine domestic circular loop that closes the bottle-to-bottle lifecycle in Australia.
Alignment with 2025–2030 Sustainability Targets
The transition supports national environmental priorities and the corporate targets set under Asahi’s sustainability roadmap:
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100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging.
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Continuous reduction in virgin fossil plastic dependency.
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Maximizing domestic reprocessing of post-consumer packaging materials.
The initiative directly aligns with the Australian Government’s National Packaging Targets administered by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which beverage brands are switching to 100% recycled plastic bottles?
All Australian-made soft drink lines from Asahi Beverages, including Schweppes, Solo, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and Sunkist across 450ml, 600ml, and 1.25L sizes.
Are caps and labels included in the 100% rPET material?
The bottle body is manufactured from 100% rPET; caps and labels are currently excluded from the 100% rPET formulation due to technical manufacturing constraints, but the entire pack remains recyclable.
Where is the recycled plastic sourced and processed?
The material is processed locally at Circular Plastics Australia (PET) facilities in Albury-Wodonga and Altona North, utilizing material recovered from kerbside collection and Container Deposit Schemes.
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