Villavicencio, Argentina 100% recyclable PET bottles without labels

Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Amcor Rigid Packaging (ARP) said it has partnered with consumer goods company Danone to launch 100 percent recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles for Argentina's Villavicencio Water brand. The new label free bottle is made from 100 percent recycled materials and has a 21 percent lower carbon footprint compared to the previous bottle.

"As a long-term partner, we are pleased to support Danone's mission to make a positive impact on the environment and our health," said Juan Cazes, General Manager of ARP Argentina. "Over the past two years, we have worked closely together to produce bottles that fully represent the Villavicencio brand, while maintaining the same visual elements. We use the highest quality materials to help ensure the safety of the container and the consumer in the process, while the bottles we make, with the help of the consumer, become just another bottle once recycled."

Swiss-based Amcor, which describes itself as a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging for food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, medical, home and personal care and other products, said it has committed to making all of its packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.

"Partnering with Danone, a global food and beverage company committed to inspiring a healthier world through food, is a natural step," the company said.

Villavicencio bottles can be recycled multiple times, "helping to support a more circular economy," ARP said. ARP says most of the brand's packaging is made of PET, which it says is "easily recycled through mechanical or chemical recycling in most markets, even if the container uses a label." ARP said that removing the labels, as in the new Villavicencio design, provides a greater opportunity to increase the yield of recycled PET resin.

"As one of our flagship brands in Argentina, Villavicencio adheres to our philosophy of being closely connected to nature," said Pablo Colombo, Danone's Purchasing Director. "If the environment is healthy, so are we. So in addition to providing quality products to our customers, we must do the same for our planet. The alliance with Amcor allows us to take another step in our commitment to sustainability, creating a bottle with a lower carbon footprint in addition to being 100% recyclable."