Major packaging change across the U.S. and Canada will help reduce brand’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 19%i and cut energy use in halfii
LOS ANGELES, February 27, 2024 — Califia Farms®, a leading, premium, plant-based beverage brand, today announced that it has transitioned all of its bottles in the U.S. and Canada to 100% recycled plastic (rPET), a move that will help reduce the company’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 19% and cut its energy use in half. The packaging update impacts the brand’s broad portfolio of refrigerated plant milks, creamers, coffees, and tea. The switch reflects Califia’s ongoing commitment to a cleaner, healthier planet and its efforts to curb demand for new plastic.
“This transition to 100% rPET represents a significant commitment to soften Califia’s environmental footprint,” said Dave Ritterbush, chief executive officer at Califia Farms. “While Califia is an inherently sustainable business thanks to the plant-based products we produce, we recognize the importance of ongoing, forward progress in our sustainability journey. By moving to 100% rPET for our iconic curvy bottle, we’re taking a major step in reducing our reliance on virgin plastic and advancing the principles of a circular economy.”
The concept of circularity – one that includes reducing virgin materials and promoting the use of recycled ones – is firmly embedded at Califia. Through the brand’s wide-ranging sustainability programs, including those led by an internal ‘Green Team,’ Califia has completed several light-weighting projects that have helped slash the total amount of plastic used in its caps, bottles, and labels. Between 2019 – 2023, these efforts have kept four million pounds of plastic from being madeiii.
“Replacing virgin plastic with recycled plastic is a critical part of ‘closing the loop’ in a circular economy,” said Ella Rosenbloom, vice president of sustainability at Califia Farms. “When it comes to circularity, we’re focused on accelerating change and thoughtfully considering how best to innovate, circulate, and eliminate the plastic that we use. This rPET project has been an enormously rewarding and complex one that has involved countless team members focused entirely on driving positive impact.”
While all Califia bottles in North America have successfully converted to 100% rPET, the brand will update its packaging to communicate the change to consumers starting in the spring of this year. The refreshed packaging includes QR codes linking to an rPET landing page as well as the brand’s sustainability reports. Both include
additional details about Califia’s work with important leaders in the sustainability space – leaders such as Climate Collaborative, an industry group taking action against climate change and How2Recycle, a standardized labeling system that promotes circularity by providing consistent and transparent on-pack disposal information to consumers in the U.S. and Canada.
For more information, visit califiafarms.com.
i Exploring Comparative Energy and Environmental Benefits of Virgin, Recycled, and Bio-Derived PET bottles.” ACS Sustainable
Chemistry & Engineering, 6(8), 9725–9733. https://doi.org/10.
ii “Life Cycle Impacts for Postconsumer Recycled Resins: PET, HDPE, and PP.” December, 2018.
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iii Based on a comparison of our packaging before and after lightweighting, details available in 2022 Sustainability Report and upcoming 2023 Sustainability Report
About Califia Farms (pronounced “Cal-uh-FEE-ahh” like California)
Califia Farms is on a mission to create a future where plants replace dairy, without compromise. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Califia produces innovative, healthy and great-tasting plant-based alternatives to dairy. The brand’s wide range of plant milks, creamers, barista products, brewed-to-blend coffees, and heavy whipping cream are made using the highest-quality ingredients from whole food plant sources. Founded in 2010, today Califia is one of the leading plant-based beverage brands in the U.S. and has on-the-ground operations in the U.K. with a brand presence in several other countries.
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