Canadians drank 2.4 billion litres of bottled water in 2014.
That’s not only a lot of water, that’s a lot of plastic bottles. Fortunately, these bottles can be recycled into building materials, electronics, textiles or even – no surprise – new water bottles.
“I’m happy to say that we’re now using 100 per cent recycled plastic for our CO-OP® GOLD Natural Spring Water,"said Store Brands Manager Sav Bellissimo.
“We know customers are doing their part to recycle their bottles, so we’re doing our part to be sustainable and complete that cycle."
Source: Ice River Springs
The blue-tinted bottles – recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) to be specific – are produced and filled in Western Canada. Recycled bottles are sorted by colour, shredded into flakes to create resins which are then used to create new bottles.
According to the National Association of PET Container Resources (NAPCOR), recycling this plastic conserves raw materials and uses 84 per cent less energy, resulting in 71 per cent lower greenhouse gas emissions. Sales of this bottle at Co-op are expected to reduce emissions by the equivalent of 224 homes.
Co-op is using the 100 per cent recycled bottles in 12 by 500 millilitre, 24 by 500 millilitre and 12 by 710 millilitre cases. Product availability may vary by location.