Highland Spring Group, the UK’s leading producer and supplier of natural source waters, have pledged that all plastic bottles collected at The 2019 Solheim Cup, will be recycled back into other bottles, as part of their commitment to providing healthy hydration in an environmentally sustainable way.
Highland Spring are proud to sponsor the tournament which will take place at Gleneagles from the 9-15 September. The Perthshire-based company are working hard to ensure that none of their products end up in landfill, rivers or oceans, through focusing on helping consumers understand more about plastic as a valuable resource that should not be treated as waste, and that every Highland Spring bottle can be recycled.
The company, working closely with event organisers, IMG and Solheim Cup Global Partner, Aberdeen Standard Investments, will ensure that every plastic bottle collected across the course of the tournament will be recycled and re-processed into other bottles. There will be 80 Highland Spring recycling bins for plastic bottles, and an additional 80 for other recyclable plastics made available to all visitors across the venue.
Visit Scotland estimates that the all-female golf contest will have more than 100,000 spectators in attendance across the course of the tournament.
Highland Spring Group is the biggest producer and supplier of natural source water in the UK. Every drop of Highland Spring water comes from the majestic Ochil Hills, where it is carefully drawn from protected land. The company focus on reducing litter and increasing recycling rates, means that any events sponsored by Highland Spring must have an accompanying recycling plan to make it as easy as possible for people to recycle their empty bottles, so they can be made into new ones. Research shows that people want to do the right thing when it comes to recycling, and the business approach is about making it as easy as possible for them to responsibly dispose of their used products.
Highland Spring will be present in the ‘Fan Zone’ at the tournament with an interactive stand which will help visitors learn more about healthy hydration, the source of the Highland Spring water and their 100% recycled and recyclable Highland Spring eco bottle. ‘Highland Spring Recycling Heroes’ will also be working across the tournament to ensure all plastic bottles are collected for recycling.
Les Montgomery, Chief Executive, Highland Spring Group, said:
“We are excited to be sponsoring the Solheim Cup, helping players, visitors and spectators at the tournament to stay healthily hydrated. Our commitment to ensuring every plastic bottle collected at the event is recycled is a great example of the circular economy in action through partnership working, The stunning backdrop of The Ochil Hills, in Perthshire, is the perfect showcase for all Scotland has to offer and we want to make sure that we leave no trace on the environment around the tournament. This is part of our broader focus on working closely with industry, Government and NGOs to create a truly circular plastic economy in Scotland and the UK.”
Paul Bush, Director of Events at VisitScotland, said: “Sustainability is a high priority for The Solheim Cup and we have worked very hard to put initiatives in place which will ensure we protect the environment and showcase sustainability in action at a global sporting event.
“We are delighted that Highland Spring has committed to recycling every plastic bottle, and we look forward to trying to make The 2019 Solheim Cup a ‘zero waste to landfill’ event.”
Jill Maxwell, Global Head of Sponsorship at Aberdeen Standard Investments said: “At Aberdeen Standard Investments we are committed to environmental protection. ESG investing represents a significant portion of our business and we are proud to offer our clients a host of responsibly invested portfolios across asset classes. Creating a truly circular plastic economy is of worldwide importance and the sustainability initiatives being introduced by Highland Spring Group at The 2019 Solheim Cup are therefore a fundamental and logical step, which we are very pleased to be supporting.”
ENDS