Al Ain Water, the UAE’s leading water brand, announced today, at Gulfood 2023, the launch of its new water bottle, which is made of recycled polyethene terephthalate (rPET). This unique 100% rPET bottle is the first 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 make new plastic bottles or other items. It supports the recycling industry, saves energy and resources, and diverts these plastics from landfills. According to Global Standards, rPET generates 75% fewer CO2 emissions, requires less energy than virgin material production, and has a better ecological balance than glass and single-use aluminium cans.
Alan Smith, Chief Executive Officer of 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 collecting, recycling, and reusing 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 UAE’s transition towards a circular economy.”
“Sustainability is increasingly influencing the purchase decision in the UAE. With growing awareness, consumers seek ways to reduce their environmental footprint and search 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 entirely biodegradable and compostable within 80 days. Since its launch in 2020, demand for Al Ain’s Plant Bottle has risen 75% year-on-year among its business customers, particularly in the hospitality and F&B sectors, which shows enormous 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.
