Oasis Water unveils South Africa’s first fully recyclable 10L PET dispenser bottle

SOUTH AFRICA – In a major step toward sustainability, Oasis Water has introduced South Africa’s first fully recyclable 10L PET refill dispenser bottle.

This innovation aligns with the company’s commitment to reducing plastic pollution while promoting eco-friendly drinking water solutions.

Plastic pollution is a global crisis, with over 500 billion plastic bottles used annually—91% of which are not recycled. In South Africa, however, recycling efforts are gaining momentum, with 431,800 tonnes of plastic recycled in 2023, up from 368,800 tonnes in 2022. 

Marine life, particularly seabirds, remains vulnerable to plastic waste. Romandi de Jongh, resource development manager at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), highlights the issue: 

“During beach cleanups and post-mortems, we frequently see plastic bottle rings and debris entangling or harming seabirds. Oasis Water’s commitment to sustainability is an important step in protecting our fragile ecosystems,” said de Jongh.

Oasis Water has long been a leader in refill water solutions, with 70% of its sales coming from refillable containers. The launch of the 10L PET dispenser bottle reflects years of research and investment in sustainable packaging.

PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) is an ideal choice for its strength, lightweight properties, and ability to be fully recycled without degrading in quality.

Unlike traditional water dispensers, Oasis Water’s new 10L PET dispenser bottles—exclusive to their ‘Water Exchange’ program—are designed for true bottle-to-bottle recycling, creating a circular economy that reduces the demand for new plastic production.

Encouraged by this success, Oasis Water plans to transition its 20L bottles to PET by 2025, further advancing its sustainability goals.

“With proper design, PET bottles can be fully recycled into new bottles, reducing waste and promoting a circular economy,” says Chandru Wadhwani, joint managing director at ExtruPET.

“This marks a significant shift in the water dispenser industry toward true sustainability.” 

Achieving circularity in the water industry 

True circularity ensures materials remain used for as long as possible, eliminating waste and reducing environmental harm.

Unlike plastics that are downcycled into lower-value products with limited lifespans, PET bottles can be efficiently recycled into new PET bottles.

In partnership with ExtruPET, Oasis Water ensures that every collected 10L PET dispenser bottle is processed and recycled, reinforcing its commitment to responsible waste management.

“Sustainability starts with intentional design,” adds Wadhwani.“There’s no point in launching a product without considering its end-of-life impact. Without this foresight, it will ultimately contribute to pollution.”

Oasis Water: Leading the way in eco-friendly hydration

By embedding sustainability at its core, Oasis Water continues setting industry benchmarks.

The company remains committed to reducing plastic waste while ensuring South Africans access to affordable drinking water. 

“We’re proud to pioneer sustainable solutions in the drinking water industry,” says Delamaine du Toit, director of marketing at Oasis Water.

“This is just the beginning of our mission to combat plastic waste while delivering high-quality hydration.”

For eco-friendly hydration, Oasis Water’s subscription service now includes the new 10L PET format, providing a monthly stylish dispenser with 100L of water.

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