Britvic-SDR-Foodservice-v17 FV - Flipbook - Page 12
Welcome
Sustainability
Category overview
DRS: lessons from the Emerald Isle
As UK governments and the industry continue to work
towards the introduction of a deposit return scheme
(DRS) on drinks packaging, Britvic is proud to have
been part of a cross-industry board that oversaw the
February 2024 launch of DRS over in Ireland.
The scheme covers plastic bottles and aluminium
and steel drinks cans and has seen more than 2,000
reverse vending machines installed in supermarkets,
convenience stores and forecourts across the country.
Shoppers pay deposits of between ¢15 and ¢25 on
drinks, which can be redeemed for food and drink
vouchers in store.
The aim of the scheme is to increase Irish recycling
rates, which was estimated to be between 60% and
70% pre-DRS, to 77% for plastic bottles by 2025 and
90% to 2029.21 So far, the scheme has been heralded a
roaring success, with more than 20 million containers
returned via the DRS by the beginning of April.22
Meanwhile, we continue to make strides to offer a
range of packaging formats. To this end, in January, we
launched plain Aqua Libra Still and Sparkling water in
330ml in昀椀nitely recyclable aluminium cans. Aqua Libra
continues to reinvent hydration, with having served in
excess of 1 million serves in just 18 months through the
innovative dispense system, The Flavour Tap.3
Through our partnership with environmental services
company, Ocean Co, we are supporting projects that
create the most impact for communities across the
globe, clearing rivers and waterways and collecting
plastic to be recycled, upcycled or co-processed through
a fully traceable system.
21 The Grocer: https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/deposit-return-schemes/inside-irelands-new-depositreturn-scheme/687901.article#:~:text=Recycling%20rates&text=As%20a%20result%2C%20
DRS%20is,works%20for%20three%20years%20now.
22 https://dublingazette.com/dublinlocalmatters/news/deposit-return-cans-55533/
23 Total serves of Flavour tap through data collected 1/1/23-8/5/24
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SUSTaINaBIlITy
