Al Ain Water Introduces UAE's First 100% PET Bottle Manufactured Locally

During Gulfood, Al Ain Water, the largest water brand in the United Arab Emirates, announced the debut of its new water bottle manufactured from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET). This innovative 100% recycled PET bottle is the first to be made domestically by a UAE-based firm.

PET is a highly recyclable plastic that, when recycled, creates rPET, a material often used for food and beverage packaging that is robust, durable, and indefinitely recyclable. After rPET has been reprocessed, it may be utilised to create new plastic bottles and other products. It bolsters the recycling economy, conserves energy and resources, and diverts plastics from landfills. According to Global Standards, rPET creates 75% fewer CO2 emissions and consumes less energy than the manufacture of virgin materials, and has a more favourable ecological balance than glass and single-use aluminium cans.

Alan Smith, CEO of Agthia Group, said, "Plastic is a valuable resource if reprocessed and utilised responsibly. To build a system for the collection, recycling, and reuse of PET-based packaging, we have been in active dialogue with the UAE government and other stakeholders. Al Ain, Agthia's flagship water brand, is pioneering this endeavour by bringing a 100% rPET bottle to the market and is actively assisting the United Arab Emirates' transformation to a circular economy."

"In the UAE, sustainability is increasingly affecting purchasing decisions. As environmental consciousness increases, people hunt for items that may help them lessen their environmental impact. The fact that Al Ain is the first UAE water brand to fill this need on the market illustrates its market dominance. A universally required item, such as bottled water, provided in sustainable packaging may have a significant impact on decreasing plastic waste in the UAE, contributing directly to the UAE's efforts to attain Net Zero by 2050, especially during the Year of Sustainability, he concluded.

Al Ain Water offers an expanding selection of environmentally packaged water bottles, including the first 100% plant-based biodegradable and compostable water bottle in the Middle East. Since its inception in 2020, demand for Al Ain's Plant Bottle among its commercial clients, notably in the hotel and food and beverage (F&B) sectors, has increased 75% year-over-year, demonstrating a tremendous need in the UAE for goods with better sustainability credentials.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between Agthia Group, Veolia Middle East subsidiary Repeet, and environmental management organisation Bee'ah. The MOU expedites PET collecting, recycling, and rPET production, in accordance with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology's (MoIAT) recent ministerial directive governing the production and distribution of recycled plastic water bottles.