Harrogate Water Going Greener With Recycling Message
New green recycling messaging on PET bottles heralds Harrogate Spring’s industry-leading switch to recycled content. All PET bottles of Harrogate Spring are now made using more than 50 per cent rPET, the highest percentage use of UK post-consumer recycled PET of any water producer.
Brand manager Nicky Cain says: “Consumers may notice a slight blue, glass-like tinge due to the high percentage of rPET. This is something of a badge of honour. PET bottles are already the greenest packaging option for bottled water when compared with alternative packaging materials, using less carbon and producing fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The use of more than 50 percent rPET is even better for the environment, helping towards achieving a fully sustainable circular economy.
“This is the first time we have introduced colour on to our classic black and white Harrogate Spring labels. The use of green lettering underlines the importance of the move to more than 50 per cent rPET content and serves to reinforce the recycling message to consumers.
“The use of colour stands out, encouraging consumer interaction and a better understanding of the link between recycling and the use of rPET in the life cycle of the product.
“Harrogate Water is leading the industry in its use of UK post-consumer recycled PET. We want to go further and increase the amount of UK-sourced rPET in our bottles, but this is wholly dependent on availability of supply and this is why the recycling message to consumers is so important.
“There is currently a shortage of rPET and the UK has some way to go to match the best recycling rates in Europe.
“However, independent research commissioned by Harrogate Water in partnership with Keep Britain Tidy, found that bottled water consumers are very environmentally conscious and want to recycle.
“The more consistent the messaging, the greater the influence on consumer behaviour and this will help increase the supply of UK-sourced rPET and help achieve a circular economy.”
The switch to UK post-consumer recycled PET was announced earlier this year. It more than matches the recycled content of Harrogate Water’s glass bottles, which have used 50 per cent recycled content for many years. It is the latest environmental initiative by Harrogate Water which has been involved in the Incredible Shrinking Bottle recycling campaign with Keep Britain Tidy, urging consumers to ‘Twist it, Cap it, Recycle it’.
