With Pepsi and Mineré, the first two beverage brands in the Thai market are adopting the high-quality Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) material from ENVICCO for their plastic bottles. The joint venture partners, ALPLA and PTT Global Chemical (GC), inaugurated the state-of-the-art recycling facility in the Rayong province in September 2022. Thailand's first certification of food-grade rPET by the national FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the launch of the first 100% rPET bottles mark the next milestone in the joint venture's collaboration with the beverage industry.

"Investing in the circular economy is a win for everyone. The environment, economy, and society benefit from the careful and efficient recycling of used plastics, creating sustainable, affordable, and innovative products, as well as generating new jobs," says Bernd Wachter, ALPLA corporate director Circular Economy & Recycling Asia.

State-of-the-Art Technology for Highest Quality

With an annual production capacity of 30,000 tons of recycled PET (rPET) and 15,000 tons of recycled HDPE (rHDPE), ENVICCO ranks among the largest recycling operations of its kind in all of Asia. The mechanical recycling process meets all quality, safety, and efficiency criteria for the production of food-grade PCR material. The rPET, labeled "InnoEco," was also certified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration prior to its approval by Thai authorities.

"Our materials consist entirely of plastics acquired in Thailand. Through cutting-edge recycling technology, we restore value to used plastics," reports Natthanun Sirirak, managing director of ENVICCO.

Awareness for the circular economy

The product launches by Pepsi and Mineré are accompanied by high-visibility campaigns for collection and recycling. These campaigns aim to educate the Thai population about the benefits of sustainable packaging solutions. Suntory PepsiCo Beverage Thailand, in partnership with the Property Management of Chulalongkorn University (PMCU) in Bangkok, has launched the campaign "Fizzy Consciousness to Change the World." Nestlé, in collaboration with the supermarket chain 7-Eleven and GC's waste management platform YOUTURN, promotes the motto "Bottle made from Bottles" for the mineral water brand Mineré. "Raising awareness about the value of recyclables is central to promoting the circular economy. Consumer engagement increases collection rates, reduces waste, and ensures an adequate supply of materials for recycling," emphasizes Wachter.