Building on its longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability, FIJI Water, a brand of The Wonderful Co., Los Angeles, has transitioned its iconic and best-selling 500- and 330-ml bottles to 100% recycled plastic (rPET) in the United States. The move is a substantial step in reducing plastic waste and replaces almost 65% of FIJI Water’s bottle volume in the United States with recycled material, it says. The company is committed to continue shifting its entire portfolio of bottle sizes to rPET by 2025.
“In our transition to recycled plastic, our intention is to make a truly meaningful and lasting environmental impact,” said Clarence Chia, senior vice president of marketing for FIJI Water, in a statement. “We are using recycled plastic to breathe new life into existing materials, while maintaining FIJI Water’s same great taste, look and quality that consumers come to expect from Earth’s Finest Water. We will continue to set ambitious targets to drive innovation and transformation in our approach and commitment to sustainability and look forward to building on this momentum.”
The switch to rPET not only reduces plastic waste, but also can reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the process, with some studies showing that rPET can result in up to a 79% reduction in carbon emissions when compared with new material, the company says. As FIJI Water looks to the future, it has ambitious targets to help preserve the planet and is committed to making a difference. In addition to introducing 100% rPET bottles, FIJI Water has invested FJ$5 million ($2.5 million) on energy efficiency initiatives on the Fijian islands, the source of FIJI Water, which includes the use of microturbine energy generation and adopting the low-sulfur fuel standard for all shipping, dramatically decreasing sulfur oxide emissions, it explains.
The new rPET bottles can be seen in FIJI Water’s updated “It’s Not Just Water” TV, digital and social media campaign. The campaign highlights the unique and pristine journey of FIJI Water to music by 11-time Academy Award-nominated composer Hans Zimmer.
Locally in Fiji, the FIJI Water Foundation focuses on sustainability and the preservation of the islands, along with supporting and improving the lives of native Fijians through initiatives that include providing access to clean water, health care services, grants for local schools and organizations, and more. Since 2007, the FIJI Water Foundation has provided funding to large-scale reforestation and conservation efforts to preserve and protect the Sovi Basin, Fiji’s most important forest ecosystem and the largest remaining lowland rainforest, in partnership with Conservation International.
