Britvic announces £1M pea-protein packaging innovation partnership

Britvic has a long history of fortifying drinks with vitamins

Branded soft drinks business Britvic is joining forces with University of Cambridge-backed tech company Xampla in a £1 million packaging innovation partnership. 

After 15 years of Cambridge research, Xampla has developed the world’s first plant protein material for commercial use. This revolutionary material uses pea protein to make microscopic capsules that protect vitamins within liquid, stopping them from being broken down by sunlight. 

Xampla’s work has seen the company secure £1 million in funding from the UK Government’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, to scale up the technology and material processing. 

The innovation is critical to delivering drinks fortified with vitamins in clear plastic bottles. Clear plastic bottles are considered a positive by consumers, with Britvic’s research showing that people are 40% more likely to recycle clear bottles over coloured ones. However, the downside of clear bottles is that they let more UV rays in, losing the necessary protection for vitamin D. 

Last year, major Britvic brands Fruit Shoot and 7UP made the shift to clear bottles to drive up recycling rates and Britvic has started to add vitamins B, C and D to Robinsons Fruit & Barley.