Resource Natural Spring Water debuts 100-percent-recycled PET bottle

Resource Natural Spring Water, a product of Nestle Waters North America (NWNA), headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, has launched a new bottle made with 100-percent-recycled plastic (rPET), excluding the cap and label, according to a news release issued by the company.

The new bottle, available in 700-milliliter and 1-liter sizes, is produced entirely of recycled plastic, the company says. NWNA reports that it is working with CarbonLITE Industries, located in Riverside, California, to source its recycled PET.

"We believe that using recycled PET can help increase recycling rates by focusing attention on the value of recycling," says Deborah Fillis Ryba, senior manager of sustainability at Nestle Waters North America. "Nestle Waters has a strong history of sustainable innovation and product stewardship advocacy, and the 100 percent rPET bottle aims to continue that legacy by increasing awareness of closed-loop recycling." 

NWNA reports that while Resource is the first bottle to be made from 100-percent-recycled plastic available nationwide in the United States, other NWNA brands currently producing bottles with 50 percent rPET include the 5-liter Deer Park bottle available in the Washington area; and the 0.5-liter Arrowhead ReBorn® bottle available in the western U.S. Also, Montclair Natural Spring Water, available in Canada, is packaged in a 100-percent-rPET bottle. The company says it is committed to increasing plastic (PET) beverage bottle recycling rates to 60 percent by 2018.

“Bottle-to-bottle recycling is one of the most effective ways to reduce landfill waste, reduce the carbon footprint, conserve natural resources and control the environmental impact of sourcing and creating new packaging,” says Leon Farahnik, founder and chief executive officer of CarbonLITE Industries LLC, a producer of food-contact-grade postconsumer recycled PET. “Currently under one-third of PET materials in the U.S. are recycled and brands such as resource, with their commitment to 100 percent rPET packaging, represent a pivotal shift in the industry to improve recycling standards among corporations and consumers.”