Yoghurt business The Collective is introducing recycled plastic (rPET) across its packaging as part of a company-wide sustainability effort to reduce its environmental impact.
The Collective’s kefir probiotic yoghurt will be the first of its products making its way into stores with the rPET packaging, working with packaging company Alto – a division of Pact Group – to develop the kefir bottles.
The Collective marketing manager Angela Lewis said the bottle change aims to reduce the amount of new plastic created by 35 tonnes, as well as 98 tonnes of CO2 emissions, each year.
“People want more environmentally friendly options and ways to reduce their own personal impact,” said Lewis.
“This is the next step in our sustainability journey, and we are committed to doing more in this area. To highlight the change, we’ve even made the bold move to update our logo on the bottles to make it even easier for people to spot it on shelf.”
As part of the change, The Collective has partnered with conservation charity Trees That Count, which aims to see more native trees planted throughout the country. The organisation’s online marketplace also allows New Zealanders to fund or gift native trees.
“By working together with companies like The Collective we’re able to plant more and more precious natives around the country and further reduce carbon emissions. Every bottle of kefir probiotic yoghurt purchased, goes toward this effort,” said Trees That Count head of marketing and partnerships Melanie Seyfort.
In November, Epicurean Dairy Limited – the company behind The Collective brand – was fined NZ$483,000 for failing to report positive listeria results between 2012-2016. Since the investigation, the company has operated with no further issues.
