From now on, the entire range of Sources Rosport water bottles is made without virgin plastic. This marks a significant turning point for the Luxembourg-based SME, which has been working towards a circular future since 2011.
“The biggest changes are those that aren’t visible,” communicated Sources Rosport at the end of February, announcing that its 1.5L and 1L Viva bottles are now made entirely from recycled plastic. There are no major changes to the packaging; only the color of the bottle reflects its more eco-friendly composition.
The goal was to replace the entire range of Rosport waters by the end of the year, and this has now been achieved. A rebranding of the labels and the “I’m Eco” shrink-wrap film mark this turning point, which involves more than just the recycling process but also a thoughtful reflection on corporate social responsibility.
Rosport Blue and Rosport Viva bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic (rPET). Rosport Classic, on the other hand, is made with 75% recycled material and 25% BIO PET, which is PET derived from sugar cane.
Plastic, especially single-use PET bottles, has been a controversial topic for several years. The Luxembourg SME has been making environmentally responsible managerial decisions for over 10 years. These reflections have aligned with efforts since 2011 to reduce the weight of Rosport PET bottles and use more eco-friendly packaging. The annual reduction in plastic material across different references is approximately 50 tons.
Sources Rosport has also been interested in using recycled materials for its PET bottles for many years. In 2014, an agreement was signed between Sources Rosport, Valorlux, and Plastipak, ensuring that Rosport’s PET bottles collected through selective sorting are recycled and used to produce new bottles. Since Sources Rosport does not export its products and its water bottles are free from virgin plastic, the 100% recycling goal can be achieved thanks to active consumer participation in sorting. It was a significant challenge, but Sources Rosport is proud to be one of the first European companies to have made this leap.
The multipacks for the Viva, Rosport Blue, and Rosport Classic ranges are wrapped with “I’m Eco” labelled plastic film. This shrink-wrap film is made from recycled polyethylene. Following the same principle as for its bottles, Sources Rosport aims to minimize the use of virgin plastic and maximize the recycling of its packaging. This 100% recyclable film is given a new life by ending up in the Valorlux blue bag.
However, efforts to reduce the use of non-renewable fossil resources are not limited to PET packaging alone. A brief reminder: in 2015, Sources Rosport decided to change the entire range of glass bottles and crates. Together with the supplier, an agreement was reached to crush the old yellow, blue, and gray crates and use them to manufacture the new gray crates in the current range. This represents a circular and environmentally respectful reuse, similar to glass bottles made with over 60% recycled glass.
Since 2011, Sources Rosport has committed to a corporate charter for social responsibility and sustainable development (CSR). This approach integrates sustainability issues into the company’s vision and strategy in the medium and long term. Thus, Sources Rosport products are distributed exclusively in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. This reduces transportation routes from the source to the consumer to a strict minimum, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Management considerations do not stop there. The Luxembourg SME’s environmental policy also aims to minimize transportation distances for suppliers while adhering to the company’s quality charter. For example, PET bottles come from Bascharage, PET bottle labels arrive from Fridhaff, and the cardboard necessary for trays and pallet separators is produced at a factory in Lintgen.
To communicate transparently on this matter, Sources Rosport has now made available a platform highlighting its values, the journey of its products, and the impact of its managerial decisions. This ensures perfect traceability and underscores the importance of working as locally as possible.
100% rPET Rosport Viva Bottle: https://products.seedtrace.org/rosport-viva
100% rPET Rosport Blue Bottle: https://products.seedtrace.org/rosport-blue
75% rPET and 25% BIO PET Rosport Classic Bottle: https://products.seedtrace.org/rosport-classic