LIMERICK-based bottled water provider Ballygowan has announced a €2m investment to produce 100% recyclable bottles in a major plan to eliminate virgin plastic from its product line.
The shift to fully recycled bottles will remove 51 million virgin plastic bottles from circulation annually and will reduce the company’s virgin plastic consumption by 1,288 tonnes.
Shifting to lighter bottles, across all of its grocery product range, will reduce plastic use by a further 245 tonnes resulting in an overall reduction of 1,533 Tonnes of virgin plastic each year, Ballygowan said.
The move at the company’s plant in Newcastle West, Co Limerick, is part of a drive for 100% sustainability across the business, under Britvic Ireland’s Healthier People, Healthier Planet strategy.
Ballygowan said it produces 100% natural mineral water from rainfall drifting in from the Atlantic Ocean that falls on land near its Limerick operation.
The water is filtered through mineral rich limestone which after rising to ground surface from a well, it is bottled and sold.
Britvic Ireland has given a commitment to reducing direct carbon emissions by 50% by 2025 and indirect carbon emission by 36% by 2025 with Ballygowan taking a lead role.
The Ballygowan operation has already reduced its direct carbon emissions by over 90%, and is operating on 95% renewable energy and 100% renewable electricity, and it has also achieved zero waste-to-landfill.
Kevin Donnelly, Managing Director, Britvic Ireland, said today’s announcement marked “a major milestone in the story of Ballygowan which by investing in a fully recycled bottling system, we are taking a major step to reduce our impact on the planet”.
“This is the latest innovation in a journey which has already seen a reduction of over 90% in our Manufacturing emissions for Ballygowan,” he added.
