Danone Canada investing in more sustainable packaging
Danone Canada announced a strategic investment of $9 million in its Boucherville plant to launch production of new individual yogurt cups made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin. The initiative is being supported as well by the Gouvernement du Québec.
The company is also aiming to integrate recycled PET (rPET), with an ambition of 30% of the content.
This initiative, supported by Danone's Oikos high-protein Greek yogurt brand marks a major step forward in the agri-food industry and in Danone's commitment to recyclability for its packaging, said Danone Canada upon the announcement.
"At Danone, innovation is the driving force behind our sustainable development approach. These new yogurt cups from Oikos, the number one brand in Canada, represent an important milestone in our ambition to reduce the environmental footprint of our packaging and inspire other companies to follow suit towards more sustainable solutions," said Frédéric Guichard, president, Danone Canada.
This major project is being carried out with the support of the Gouvernement du Québec, notably through Investissement Québec, which is providing a $3 million loan, and RECYC-QUÉBEC, which is contributing a direct grant of $400,000. This initiative is in line with Québec's efforts to reduce plastic pollution and promote innovative, more sustainable packaging strategies.
"As RECYC-QUÉBEC aims to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, it was only natural for us to be involved in making this project a reality,” added Emmanuelle Géhin, president and CEO, RECYC-QUÉBEC. “This effort also reinforces our dedication to supporting innovations that address problematic materials, like plastic packaging. Ecodesign is a pivotal strategy in the circular economy and is also a very important path forward that we absolutely must collectively invest in to reduce our footprint."
The new Oikos PET cups are already being deployed at points of sale across the country.
"I congratulate the Danone Canada team on this innovative and ambitious project. In addition to generating environmental benefits, our $3.4 million investment will help the company remain competitive in a fast-growing, competitive sector and consolidate its presence in the Canadian market,” says Christine Fréchette, Minister of the Economy, Innovation and Energy and Minister responsible for Regional Economic Development. “Supporting our companies as they go green helps us build a prosperous, sustainable economy in Québec."
