Berry Global Group, Inc. (NYSE: BERY), a leader in global sustainable packaging, has collaborated with Brookfield Drinks to introduce an innovative spring water range in a pioneering bottle made entirely from Prevented Ocean Plastic™ (POP).
Each 500ml bottle of NEO WTR, crafted from discarded plastic collected from coastlines vulnerable to ocean plastic pollution, effectively prevents approximately 1.7 plastic bottles from entering the ocean2. Beyond the POP bottle, both the label and cap are fully recyclable, providing a comprehensive circular packaging solution.
To meet the specific filling requirements while assuring strong shelf presence and user convenience, Berry Global partnered with Brookfield, a drinks sales and marketing expert, and the filler to develop a custom bottle design. The bottle features an embossed NEO WTR logo that enhances branding, coupled with a striking wraparound label that underscores the bottle’s POP origins.
Berry’s specialists efficiently sourced the POP and delivered initial bottle samples for Brookfield’s review. Following the finalization of the bottle design, the mold was promptly created, and a pallet of bottles was produced for testing to accelerate the project.
“We are delighted to have worked with NEO WTR on this very important project,” commented Joe Horton, Sales and Marketing Director at Berry Global. “The bottle exemplifies how a practical solution can swiftly be developed to support NEO WTR’s sustainability goals and tight timelines. It also showcases how businesses can achieve more together in reaching their sustainability objectives.”
The POP, provided by Bantam Materials, is a high-quality, certified, and award-winning recycled plastic collected from coastal regions at risk of ocean plastic pollution. NEO WTR utilizes materials sourced from Indonesia, recognized as the world’s second-largest contributor to ocean plastic3.
This recycled plastic meets regulatory health and safety standards, is traceable to its source, and can be identified on the bottle via its distinctive triangular logo.
“We are incredibly proud to be the first in the category to launch this type of bottle, marking a significant milestone in packaging for soft drinks,” stated NEO WTR Managing Director Nigel McNally.
“Our 100% POP bottle, complete with a recyclable cap and label, presents an environmentally friendly option that actively combats the escalating issue of ocean plastic. Furthermore, it was essential that the bottle provided a positive user experience. Berry Global’s contributions have been vital in meeting all our goals, and they effectively managed the tight deadlines for a successful on-time launch.”
NEO WTR natural British spring water is sourced from Cheddar, Somerset, and is currently available in 1,500 Tesco Superstores nationwide. Additionally, NEO WTR has been listed in 270 Sainsbury’s outlets.
To discover more about Berry’s fast-to-market solutions in food and drink packaging, visit: https://www.berryglobal.com/en/capabilities/agile-solutions
- The bottle solely utilizes 100% recycled Prevented Ocean Plastic™, excluding the cap and label.
- This estimation is based on an average bottle weight of 20g, calculated during July 2023 within the Prevented Ocean Plastic™ supply chain in Southeast Asia, including clear/light and light blue material grades, without caps and labels.
- https://jambeck.engr.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/science.1260352-Jambeck-et-al-2015.pdf
