GINGER GOES GREEN!
Irn-Bru manufacturer Barr pledges to bottle its iconic soft drink in 100pc recycled plastic
IT is known for its vibrant orange hue, but Scotland’s ‘other national drink’ is now going green.
Irn-Bru maker AG Barr yesterday announced plans to sell the fizzy drink only in 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles.
The company said the change is part of its initiative to be carbon neutral by 2040.
The packaging will also be rolled out to its Funkin drinks and its Rubicon brand, 50 per cent of which already uses plastic (rPET).
Roger White, AG Barr chief executive, said: ‘As a responsible business this is a hugely important programme for us. But today’s announcement is only the start.
‘Under our No Time To Waste programme we are openly committing to be carbon net zero by 2040, if not sooner, and plan to involve all our staff, suppliers and customers in achieving our long-term vision.’
As part of the plans, AG Barr confirmed that Irn-Bru and Rubicon will be in 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles by spring 2022, with the remainder of its drinks in the same rPET containers by 2023.
Other proposals include a reduction in the use of virgin plastic in its multipacks, the introduction of paper straws on small juice boxes and looking to plant-based plastics for its one-litre cartons.
More than 64,000 tons of plastic food and drink wrappers end up in landfill each year according to Zero Waste Scotland, which put the cost of this waste at more than £11million annually.
AG Barr has previously outlined its commitment to waste reduction as a founding member of Circularity Scotland, administrator of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). The scheme – which the Scottish Daily Mail campaigned for – will introduce a nominal deposit on drink containers which is refunded when the bottle or can is returned to a collection point.
The plan hopes to prevent a huge number of plastic bottles, aluminium cans and glass bottles ending up as litter or in landfill.
A Barr spokesman said: ‘As a founder member of Circularity Scotland, the new not-for-profit administrator of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme, AG Barr is also committed to creating a truly circular system for drinks containers.
‘We plan to continually update our No Time To Waste road map as milestones are met and new goals are set on its journey to net zero.’
Donald McCalman of Circularity Scotland, said: ‘The DRS is a game changer for Scotland’s ambition to become a greener, cleaner country.’