VALSER to launch bottles made from 100% recycled PET

VALSER is Switzerland’s most sustainable mineral water. That’s because of the introduction of 100% rPET – but that’s not all. The traditional brand already became a pioneer in terms of sustainability through its targeted work with local partners. The fizz in the water, for example, comes from Climeworks, an ETH spinoff that extracts the CO₂ from the air. VALSER also cooperates with well-known institutions like consulting firm Swiss Climate and Swiss development organization Helvetas.

100% rPET: a historic step

Now VALSER is going even farther, becoming the first Swiss mineral water to shift to 100% recycled PET. The launch is due to start immediately, with the 0.5-liter bottle of VALSER Sparkling. All PET bottles will consist of 100% recycled material by the fall of 2019. This is a historic step, not just in a national context, but also internationally. After all, very few beverage manufacturers have managed to introduce 100% rPET to date. In fact, most beverage manufacturers still do not use rPET at all, instead using exclusively new PET for their bottles. One of the factors that have made this change possible is that the Swiss population is highly disciplined about recycling. 83% of all PET bottles are already returned today. Rapid technological advances are now helping to make it possible to use rPET to a larger extent.

Significant improvement in CO₂ levels 

rPET is an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic packages. Collecting and recycling used PET bottles not only minimizes waste, but also lowers CO₂ emissions. In fact, the move to 100% rPET will bring a significant reduction in CO₂ use. Compared to bottles made of new PET with no recycled material at all, CO₂ emissions will be reduced by as much as 75% . For VALSER, whose bottles most recently contained 36% rPET, the shift means a CO₂ reduction of 64%. In 2020, VALSER will be able to lower its figures by about 2,000 tons of CO₂.

Nadia Damaso and Karen Fleischmann: the new faces of VALSER

VALSER’s multifaceted commitment to sustainability will be represented in the future by Nadia Damaso, a well-known cookbook author from the Swiss canton of Grisons, and Karen Fleischmann, a sustainability activist and model who has enjoyed international success. Both of them live a conscious lifestyle with a connection to nature, and both have promoted sustainable use of natural resources in their fields. As part of a longer-term partnership, Damaso and Fleischmann will team up with VALSER and act as the faces of the brand as its sustainability ambassadors.

About Valser Mineralquellen

Valser Mineralquellen was founded in 1960. The Valser delivery service brought the mineral water from Vals into homes and offices across all of Switzerland, making it a household name. Today, Valser Mineralquellen has just under 80 employees. It is one of the biggest employers in Vals and has belonged to The Coca‑Cola Company since 2002. In recent years, Coca‑Cola has invested nearly CHF 60 million in the Vals site, including in developing the St. Paulsquelle spring. For more information, please visit www.valser.ch.

About Coca‑Cola Switzerland

Coca‑Cola Switzerland has been producing locally for Swiss consumers since 1936 and has about 800 employees. Coca‑Cola Switzerland generates CHF 2 in value for every liter of beverage produced locally, or a total of CHF 988 million in 2018. Of the ingredients, 95% come from Swiss suppliers, mostly partners in the area. Additionally, for each job created directly, Coca‑Cola enables ten further jobs in Switzerland, including in gastronomy, retail, production, agriculture, logistics and in various other industries.