Lipton is aware of the impact of plastic on the environment. We know it will take more than reusable plastic bags to make a difference. That’s why, by 2020, we aim to:
• Reduce the weight of our tea box packaging by a third
• Halve the amount of waste produced by the disposal of our hot tea products
To do this, we’re designing products that use less raw materials and are easier to recycle. Our family-size boxes now use over 40% less packaging material.
When it comes to our ready to drink products we’ve cut the amount of plastic required to make our bottles.
• Our current model of plastic consumption isn’t working as well as it should: packaging is used, then discarded. This has resulted in a vast amount of plastic waste in our oceans. In January 2017, Unilever committed itself to making 100% of its plastic packaging fully reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
• To help create an end market for this material, we're also committed to increasing recycled plastic content in our packaging to at least 25% by 2025.
Whenever possible, we use recycled plastic (rPET) to create our bottles. rPET is made from existing materials, reducing the demand for newly made plastic.
There currently isn’t enough rPET available to make every bottle from 100% recycled material. We're making progress, though. In France and Germany, half our bottles are now made with rPET.
With your help, we can reduce plastic’s impact on the planet. The more bottles you recycle, the more rPET becomes available to make recycled bottles in the future.
We recycle and reduce plastic waste wherever possible. In one local scheme in Kenya, our waste is being turned into jewelry! Not only has this produced a profitable business, it has shown people how to reuse plastic, as well as providing jobs for dozens of women.
We are currently working on new types of products and packaging to help reduce our carbon footprint.
We’re working with our global partners to take recycling to the next level. Watch this space!