North Yorkshire-based Esterform Packaging Ltd (www.esterform.com) has entered into a long-term agreement with Britvic for the supply of recycled plastic (rPET).

It will become Britvic’s preferred supplier of rPET in Great Britain and Ireland, and the latter will provide £5 million of investment support for the construction of new rPET manufacturing facilities at its site in Sherburn.

Founded in Liverpool in 1999, Esterform is the UK’s largest independent converter of PET, and it has supplied Britvic for 15 years.

This deal gives Britvic secure access to UK-sourced food-grade rPET, and it gives Esterform the security to invest in a major capital project that will enhance the UK’s efforts to create a circular economy.

The new manufacturing facility will be powered by 100% renewable energy sources and is expected to be operational by the end of 2020.

Trystan Farnworth, group sustainability director at Britvic, said: “We are committed to making a positive difference to the world around us, and our partnership with Esterform is another important step forward for our efforts to reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste.

“It gives us a secure supply of rPET at a time when this resource is scarce in the UK.”