Naked Juice Uses 100 Percent Recycled Bottles

Naked Juice, Azusa, Calif., claims that it has become the first nationally distributed brand to transition to a 100 percent post-consumer recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle, known as the Naked reNEWabottle.

Naked Juice says it expects to have its entire product line transitioned to the 100 percent post-consumer recycled bottles in 2010, starting by converting all of its 32-ounce bottles in July 2009.

While the company’s previous bottles were translucent, the Naked reNEWabottle is clear and features a label indicating that the bottle is 100 percent recycled. Products available in the 32-ounce size are Green Machine, Blue Machine, Mighty Mango, Chai Spiced Cider and Pomegranate Blueberry, as well as Protein Zone, which will be introduced in August.

“The transition to 100 percent post-consumer recycled bottles is a major milestone that we have worked hard to achieve. It’s important for the earth, and that’s important to our consumers,” says Mikel Durham, general manager of Naked Juice.

The initial 32-ounce bottle transition reduces virgin plastic consumption by 1 million pounds per year and oil use by 8,192 barrels per year, the equivalent of taking 497 cars off of the road

When Naked Juice finishes transitioning its entire line, virgin plastic consumption will be reduced by 8.1 million pounds per year, saving 57,000 barrels of oil every year.

“Closing the loop on packaging is fundamental to a vision for more sustainable packaging,” says Anne Johnson, director of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition at GreenBlue. “Utilizing 100 percent recycled material in a juice bottle that can be collected and recycled yet again is a step in making this vision a reality. This innovation sends a signal to the market that there are end markets for materials if we recycle more.”