Sustainable drinks packaging is no longer simply about choosing a container that looks environmentally responsible. In 2026, drinks brands need to think more carefully about the materials they use, how packaging is manufactured and transported, whether it can be recycled, and what happens to it once the consumer has finished the drink.
For drinks brands launching new products in the UK, packaging decisions are also becoming increasingly connected to regulation. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is changing how businesses account for packaging, while the UK’s planned Deposit Return Scheme is set to bring further changes to the way eligible drinks containers are collected and recycled.
At the same time, consumers, retailers and hospitality businesses are paying closer attention to the environmental credentials of the products they buy.
So, what does sustainable drinks packaging actually mean in 2026, and what should brands consider when developing their next beverage?
What Is Sustainable Drinks Packaging?
Sustainable drinks packaging is packaging designed to minimise environmental impact while still protecting the product and meeting the practical requirements of manufacturing, distribution, retail and consumption.
There is no single material that can automatically be described as the most sustainable option for every drink.
Glass, aluminium, PET and recycled PET can all have a role to play, depending on the product and how it will be manufactured, transported, sold and consumed.
A more useful way to assess packaging is to consider its entire lifecycle:
- Where the raw materials come from
- How much material is required
- How the packaging is manufactured
- How efficiently it can be transported
- Whether it contains recycled content
- Whether it can be collected and recycled
- What happens to it after use
This lifecycle approach is becoming increasingly important as the drinks industry moves away from simple “eco-friendly” claims and towards more measurable approaches to sustainability.
1. Recycled Materials Are Becoming More Important
One of the most significant developments in drinks packaging is the growing focus on recycled materials.
Recycled PET (rPET), recycled aluminium and recycled glass can all help reduce reliance on virgin raw materials. For drinks brands, incorporating recycled content can therefore form an important part of a broader packaging strategy.
However, recycled content is only one part of the picture.
A package containing recycled material is not necessarily sustainable if the finished design is difficult to recycle or if the material cannot be effectively recovered after use.
This is why brands should consider both recycled content and recyclability when evaluating packaging.
The aim is to keep useful materials in circulation for longer, rather than simply replacing one material with another.
2. Lightweighting Can Reduce Packaging Impact
Sometimes the most effective packaging change is to use less material in the first place.
Lightweighting involves reducing the amount of material used to produce a container while maintaining the strength and performance needed to protect the drink.
This can apply to glass bottles, plastic bottles and other packaging formats.
For drinks brands, reducing packaging weight can have another potential advantage. Drinks are relatively heavy products, so lighter packaging can reduce the weight that needs to be moved through the supply chain.
When multiplied across thousands or millions of units, even relatively small reductions can make a meaningful difference to material use and logistics.
However, lightweighting needs to be approached carefully.
A bottle or container still needs to withstand filling, handling, storage and transportation. The objective is not to create the lightest possible package, but to find an appropriate balance between material efficiency, product protection and performance.
3. Recyclability Needs to Be Considered at the Design Stage
Recyclability should be considered when packaging is being designed, not once the product is already ready for launch.
The container is only one part of a finished drinks pack.
Labels, closures, sleeves, adhesives, coatings and other components can all influence how packaging is handled at the end of its useful life.
This makes packaging design an increasingly important part of new product development.
A drinks brand might have a beautifully designed bottle, but if the combination of materials makes it difficult to recycle, the packaging may not deliver the sustainability benefits the brand expects.
For this reason, brands should assess packaging as a complete system.
The question is not simply:
“Is this bottle or can recyclable?”
It is:
“Can the complete package be effectively collected, sorted and recycled?”
4. UK Packaging Regulation Is Changing
The sustainability conversation is being influenced not only by consumers but also by regulation.
The UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility system for packaging is designed to make businesses more responsible for the packaging they place on the market and the costs associated with its management after use.
For drinks brands, this means packaging information, material choices and recyclability are becoming increasingly important considerations.
Another major development is the UK’s planned Deposit Return Scheme.
The scheme is currently expected to launch in October 2027 and will introduce a deposit system for eligible drinks containers, with the aim of increasing collection and recycling rates.
For brands developing new products in 2026, this is worth considering now.
Packaging decisions made today can remain part of a product’s supply chain for years. Thinking about future requirements early can help brands avoid having to redesign packaging later.
5. Aluminium Continues to Be an Important Packaging Option
Aluminium cans remain a popular choice for many drinks brands.
They are lightweight, robust and recyclable, while their format works particularly well for products designed around convenience and on-the-go consumption.
Cans can also provide excellent opportunities for brand design, making them suitable for everything from soft drinks and mixers to functional and lifestyle beverages.
However, it is important not to treat aluminium as automatically more sustainable than every alternative.
The environmental impact of any packaging format depends on factors including material sourcing, manufacturing, recycled content, weight, transportation and end-of-life recovery.
The better question for a drinks brand is therefore not:
“Which material is the greenest?”
It is:
“Which packaging format provides the right balance of sustainability, functionality and commercial performance for our product?”
6. Glass Still Has a Role in Premium Drinks
Glass remains an important packaging format for premium beverages.
Its appearance and tactile quality can help communicate a premium brand proposition, making it particularly attractive for premium mixers, botanical drinks, hospitality products and other beverages where presentation matters.
However, glass is heavier than many alternative packaging formats.
That means brands choosing glass should consider the overall lifecycle of the packaging, including bottle weight, transportation and the use of recycled glass.
The answer is not necessarily to eliminate glass.
Instead, brands can look at ways of making glass packaging more efficient while retaining the qualities that make it attractive to consumers.
Lightweight bottles, appropriate bottle design and recycled content can all form part of that conversation.
7. Circularity Is Becoming the Bigger Goal
Perhaps the most important change in the packaging conversation is the move from “eco-friendly” packaging towards circular packaging.
A circular approach aims to keep materials in use for as long as possible.
For drinks packaging, the basic principle is:
Raw materials → packaging production → filling → distribution → consumer use → collection → recycling → new products
The objective is to reduce waste and prevent valuable materials from simply becoming waste after a single use.
This changes how brands think about packaging.
Instead of asking whether a particular material sounds sustainable, businesses can consider how effectively that material fits into existing collection and recycling systems.
Circularity therefore requires brands to think beyond the packaging itself and consider the wider infrastructure around it.
8. Sustainable Packaging Still Needs to Make Commercial Sense
Sustainability is important, but packaging still needs to work as part of a commercially viable drinks product.
It needs to:
- Protect the drink
- Meet food safety requirements
- Work with filling equipment
- Withstand transportation and handling
- Provide an appropriate shelf life
- Meet retailer or hospitality requirements
- Present the brand effectively
- Be available in the required quantities
- Fit within the product’s target cost
This is particularly important for start-ups and growing drinks brands.
An innovative packaging format may sound attractive, but if it is difficult to source, unsuitable for the filling process or prohibitively expensive at the required production volume, it may not be the right solution.
The best packaging decision is therefore usually a balance between environmental considerations, technical performance, availability, brand positioning and cost.
How Should Drinks Brands Choose Sustainable Packaging?
If you are developing a new drink in 2026, packaging should be part of the product development conversation from the beginning.
Start With the Product
The type of drink, ingredients, shelf life and intended market can all influence the most appropriate packaging format.
Consider Material Use
Ask whether the amount of packaging can be reduced without compromising product protection or performance.
Look at Recycled Content
Where technically and commercially appropriate, investigate whether recycled materials can be incorporated into the packaging.
Assess the Complete Pack
Do not consider the bottle or can in isolation. Look at labels, closures, sleeves and other components too.
Think About Transportation
Packaging weight and dimensions can affect warehousing, distribution and transportation requirements.
Consider Future Regulation
Packaging choices should take account of current UK requirements as well as significant changes expected in the coming years.
Discuss Packaging With Your Manufacturer
Your packaging needs to work with the filling and manufacturing process. Bringing your manufacturing partner into the conversation early can help identify potential technical or commercial issues before production begins.
Why Drinks Brands Should Consider Packaging Early
Packaging is often treated as one of the final decisions before a product launch.
In reality, it can influence many other parts of the development process.
The chosen format can affect filling equipment, labelling, production volumes, storage, transportation and costs. It can also influence how consumers perceive the drink.
That is why packaging is best considered alongside formulation and manufacturing rather than treated as a separate final-stage decision.
For emerging drinks brands, working with an experienced manufacturing partner can make this process considerably easier.
Alfresco Drinks supports brands through different stages of beverage development and production, including formulation, flavour development, technical support, packaging, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution.
This means packaging can be considered alongside the practical requirements of turning a drinks concept into a finished product.
What Will Sustainable Drinks Packaging Look Like in the Future?
There is unlikely to be one packaging material that dominates every drinks category.
Instead, the future is likely to involve brands making more informed decisions about which packaging format is appropriate for each product.
The important factors will increasingly include:
- Less material.
- More recycled content where appropriate.
- Better recyclability.
- Greater supply chain efficiency.
- More effective collection and recycling.
- Better understanding of packaging’s full lifecycle.
For one drink, that could mean lightweight recycled PET.
For another, aluminium may provide the right balance of convenience, durability and recyclability.
For a premium beverage, carefully designed glass may still be the best fit.
The key is understanding the full lifecycle rather than assuming that one material is automatically better than another.
At the same time, regulation, recycling infrastructure, consumer expectations and packaging technology will continue to evolve.
Drinks brands that consider these factors early will be better positioned to respond to those changes.
Final Thoughts
Sustainable drinks packaging in 2026 is about more than simply choosing a material labelled “green”.
It is about making better packaging decisions based on the complete lifecycle of the product.
That means considering how much material is used, whether recycled content is available, how easily the finished pack can be recycled, how efficiently it can be transported and how well it works with the manufacturing process.
For drinks brands, sustainability should therefore be part of product development from the very beginning.
The right packaging can support a brand’s environmental objectives while also protecting the drink, strengthening its presentation and making commercial sense.
As the UK’s packaging landscape continues to evolve, brands that start thinking about these issues now will be better prepared for the drinks market of tomorrow.
Developing a new drinks brand or looking to improve an existing product? Alfresco Drinks can help with formulation, packaging, manufacturing and bringing your beverage concept to market. Get in touch with the Alfresco team to discuss your next drinks project.
