Lucozade Energy is to get a new-look bottle that will save almost 1,000 tonnes of plastic annually and be easier to recycle.
The iconic drinks brand’s producer Suntory Beverage & Food Great Britain & Ireland (SBF GB&I) revealed it had invested £6.3m in the major packaging redesign.
Lucozade Energy bottles will now feature a half-sleeve rather than their previous full-length jackets.
This will result in a 60 per cent reduction in the weight of the coverings and remove 956 tonnes of plastic per year.
Karl Ottomar, supply chain director at SBF GB&I, said the firm made more than 3,000 bottles of Lucozade Energy per minute.
“This has been a complex and large-scale change for our factory,” he added. “While reducing a drink’s sleeve size may sound simple, it has required a full redesign of the bottle and complete change in componentry on our production lines.
“The team have dedicated thousands of hours to plan and successfully implement the changes on our lines and I’m so proud of their incredible commitment to this project and helping us meet our sustainability goals.”
Paul East, head of packaging recycling and design at Recoup, endorsed the switch, saying: “This new design meets recyclability guidelines, meaning the bottles can be easily sorted at recycling centres, and reduces the amount of overall plastic produced.”
