Expansion Management

100% Percent Recycled

July 10, 2009

You have to admire ambitious goals. The Naked Juice company announced today that it will be the first nationally distributed brand to use 100% recycled bottles.

This is a company that believes. "If you were plastic, wouldn't you like to come back as a Naked Juice bottle? With the new Naked reNEWabottle, consumers can reduce, reuse, recycle ... reincarnate!" said Mikel Durham, general manager of Naked Juice.

By 2010 the company plans to have its entire product line transitioned to the post-consumer recycled bottles.

If you are wondering what these PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles are made of, it turns out they are in fact made from other bottles. The PET bottles are plastic coded #1, which are easily recycled, according to the company.

Now just in case you were looking for the part where we demonstrate how many cars will be taken off the road by this sustainable manufacturing practice, here it is. The initial 32 ounce bottle transition reduces virgin plastic consumption by 1 million pounds per year and oil use by 8,192 barrels every year -- the equivalent of taking 497 cars off of the road.

Not enough cars you say. OK. When Naked Juice finishes transitioning its entire line, virgin plastic consumption will be reduced by 8.1 million pounds per year, saving 57,000 barrels of oil every year - the equivalent of taking 3,460 cars off of the road!

The company is involved in other green efforts as well. Last year the company moved to a new facility that meets the criteria for LEED certification and in April they teamed up with the Rainforest Alliance for sustainable fruit procurement.

And because I can't resist sharing this type of information, the company was founded and first marketed towel-to-towel ( I personally don't remember studying that at Univ. of Michigan Business School) on the beaches of Santa Monica, Calif in 1983.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko Blog | Senior Editor

Focus: Expansion Management & the Biotech & Life Sciences Industries

Email: [email protected]

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Senior Editor Adrienne Selko manages IndustryWeek’s Expansion Management, delivering ideas and information about how successful manufacturers leverage location to gain competitive advantage. She explores the strategies behind why companies located their headquarters, research institutes, factories, warehouse and distribution centers and other facilities where they did, and how they benefit from the decision.

Adrienne is also the editorial coordinator of the IndustryWeek Expansion Management Roundtable events, which unites economic development professionals to network and discuss the latest trends in site location.

As well, Adrienne tells the stories of successful companies in the biotechnology and life sciences industries.

In the past, Adrienne has managed IndustryWeek’s award-winning website, overseeing eNewletters, webinars, and contributed content. Before joining the staff, Adrienne was managing editor of corporate publications at a large regional financial institution. She also ran a public relations and marketing company that published a best-selling healthcare book.

Adrienne received a bachelor’s of business administration from the University of Michigan and is especially interested in wellness and natural health.