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rPet Bottle, UAE’s 100% First Locally Produced Water Bottles | |
| Sumita Pawar |
A report says Al Ain Water, the UAE’s leading water brand, announced today at Gulfood the launch of its new water bottle, which is made of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET).
This new 100% rPET bottle is the first to be locally produced by a UAE brand.
PET is a highly recyclable plastic material, and when recycled, it becomes rPET, a strong, durable, and infinitely recyclable material that is commonly used for packaged foods and drinks. Once reprocessed, rPET can be used to make new plastic bottles or other items, according to the report.
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It supports the recycling industry, saves energy and resources, and diverts these plastics from landfills.
According to global standards, rPET generates 75% less CO2 emissions, requires less energy compared to virgin material production, and has a better overall ecological balance than glass and single-use aluminium cans, said the report.
Alan Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Agthia Group, said, "Plastic is a significant resource if repurposed and reused appropriately." "We have been in active conversations with the UAE government and other stakeholders to develop a system for the collection, recycling, and reuse of PET-based packaging."
"We are delighted that these efforts are bearing fruit, and today Al Ain, Agthia’s flagship water brand, is pioneering this initiative by introducing a 100% rPET bottle to the market and is actively supporting the UAE’s transition towards a circular economy," he added.
According to Alan Smith, sustainability is increasingly influencing purchase decisions in the UAE. With growing awareness, consumers are looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint and searching for products that help them achieve this.
"The fact that Al Ain is the first UAE water brand to fill this gap in the market is a true testament to its market leadership." "A universally essential commodity, such as bottled water, delivered in sustainable packaging can have a substantial influence on reducing plastic waste in the UAE, contributing directly to the UAE's efforts to reach net zero by 2050, particularly during the Year of Sustainability," he concluded.
Al Ain Water has a growing range of sustainably packaged water bottles, including the Middle East’s first 100% plant-based water bottle that is completely biodegradable and compostable within 80 days.
According to the report, demand for Al Ain's Plant Bottle has increased 75% year on year among its business customers, particularly in the hospitality and F&B sectors, since its launch in 2020, indicating a high demand in the UAE for products with superior sustainability credentials.
The launch of Al Ain Water’s 100% rPET bottle builds on an MOU signed between Agthia Group, Veolia Middle East subsidiary Repeet, and environmental management group Bee’ah.
The MOU accelerates PET collection, recycling, and rPET manufacturing, in line with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology’s (MoIAT) recent ministerial decree regulating the manufacturing and trade of recycled plastic water bottles, concluded the report.