Partnership with Eastman uses advanced recycling technology to transform hard-to-recycle plastics into food-grade packaging.
NEW YORK, USA – PepsiCo is advancing its sustainable packaging initiatives by converting old carpets, clothing fibres and other hard-to-recycle plastic waste into new beverage bottles through a multi-year partnership with materials company Eastman. The initiative aims to reduce dependence on virgin plastic while supporting a more circular packaging economy.
The company is using Eastman’s advanced molecular recycling technology, which breaks down difficult-to-recycle polyester-based plastics into their original molecular components and rebuilds them into high-quality, food-grade recycled plastic suitable for beverage packaging. Materials such as carpet fibres, coloured plastic bottles, films and textile waste that would typically end up in landfills can now be repurposed into new bottles.
PepsiCo has already started rolling out Gatorade bottles in the United States made using recycled plastic produced through the technology. The company said the approach complements traditional mechanical recycling systems by processing waste streams that are difficult to recycle through conventional methods.
According to PepsiCo, the project forms part of its broader sustainability strategy focused on increasing recycled content in packaging, reducing virgin plastic usage and improving packaging circularity across its global beverage portfolio.
Industry experts believe advanced recycling technologies could play a significant role in addressing plastic waste challenges by expanding the range of materials that can be recycled and reused in high-value packaging applications.