With graduation season upon us there will be no shortage of speeches highlighting the impact these future leaders will have on society. Based on an OnePoll study released in April, it looks as though “going green” is being instilled in the younger generation.

Conducted between Feb. 28 and March 2 with 2,000 American parents of children ages five through 18, the OnePoll online survey found that nearly seven in 10 parents indicated their families have become more sustainable and eco-conscious since the pandemic began.

 

Recycling
Photo by Artem Podraz/courtesy of Canva

 

One of the top habits embraced by these families was recycling with 30% of respondents naming this as a top way to teach their kids how to be more sustainable.

Aligning with consumers’ desire for a more sustainable future, beverage-makers and their supplier partners are investing in projects that support recycling efforts.

For example, Amcor Rigid Packaging (ARP) and Danone launched a 100% recyclable bottle for the Villavicencio water brand. Made exclusively for the Argentinean market, Villavicencio’s label-less bottle is made from 100% recycled content and has a reduced carbon footprint of 21% compared with the previous bottle, the companies say.

“As one of our flagship brands in Argentina, Villavicencio upholds the ideals that we are all connected to nature,” said Pablo Colombo, Danone procurement director, in a statement. “If the environment is healthy, we are too. So, in addition to serving our customers with high-quality products, we must do the same for our planet. The alliance with Amcor has allowed us to take another step in our commitment to sustainability, creating a bottle that, in addition to being 100% recyclable, has a lower carbon footprint.”

 

recycled content
Image courtesy of Ball Corp.

 

But as many know, sustainability does not end with at-home consumption, which is why Ball Corp. developed its Ball Aluminum Cup to bring beverage packaging circularity to sports and entertainment venues. Earlier this year, the company built upon this investment having announced with supplier Novelis that the Ball Aluminum Cup now is composed of 90% recycled content.

Producing the cup with 90% recycled content significantly reduces its carbon footprint, as doing so with recycled aluminum uses 95% less energy than doing so with primary aluminum, according to the company. Ball also recently received Cradle to Cradle Certified Bronze for the aluminum cup.

“At Ball, we’re committed to innovative solutions that contribute to creating a truly circular economy,” said Dan Fisher, president and CEO of Ball Corp., in a statement. “Aluminum beverage packaging ― including the Ball Aluminum Cup ― has always been a sustainable alternative to plastic, and this update only further strengthens its sustainability attributes. We aim to deliver solutions that not only benefit our global customers but also benefit the planet, and we are excited to partner with Novelis to bring a Ball Aluminum Cup made with 90% recycled content to communities everywhere.”

As more consumers understand the importance of sustainable practices, members of the beverage community and its suppliers will be on hand to support those efforts.