National soft drinks manufacturer, Clearly Drinks, is leading the way to a sustainable future through its environmentally friendly initiatives.
Plans set out in 2020 included investment in recyclable packaging solutions as well as initiatives to improve the lives of people in the local area.
Plastic reduction, a main area of focus for Clearly Drinks, resulted in a substantial investment into recyclable packaging for its products with the business on track to deliver its promise. Its 500ml PET has been made lighter and now weighs 16.5g, saving 36.8 tonnes of plastic from January to May 2021 on top of 77 tonnes achieved in 2020. Lightweighting is also keeping the carbon footprint to a minimum.
Further investments included reducing 40,000 miles on the road by swapping pre-blown one-litre contour bottles for preforms, reducing deliveries from 85 loads each year to just five loads.
Between January to May 2021, the switch from sports cap to flat cap on Perfectly Clear products saved 12.3 tonnes of plastic on top of the 31 tonnes saved in 2020. There have also been plans submitted for projects that have the potential to yield a 31 tonne per annum saving on polythene.
Clearly Drinks chief executive officer, Mick Howard, said: “As a responsible manufacturer it’s our job to forge the path in what’s possible. Part of who we are as a company is to be sustainable and everyone across the business is invested in making these promises a reality, to make our planet a better place.
“We recognise our important role in tackling a critical global environmental; by doing our part in reducing the amount of plastic we use, finding recyclable packaging solutions and educating our industry peers and consumers on the need for change. This way, we feel we can make a real difference in fighting the harmful effects of plastic in our environment.
“We have already achieved zero waste to landfill and eliminated 390 tonnes of plastic from our business, with plans to reduce our plastic usage further by the end of 2022.
“As well as protecting the environment, we have also made cultural investments towards our workforce by improving equality, diversity and inclusion across the organisation.”
This has been achieved through several initiatives including signing the Armed Forces Covenant, becoming a recognised disability confident employer and working closely with the Moving On Tyne & Wear programme to help anyone who has a health barrier, disability or learning need to seek employment. Clearly Drinks also works closely with the Salvation Army and have recently announced a new partnership, part funding a local employability coordinator, to help and support people who are homeless across Sunderland to seek employment.