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Suntory Q&A: Lessons From Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme

Sustainabilitymag · · 1434 words · By Lucy Potter
Regulatory Alignment Circular Economy Corporate Responsibility
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The article presents an interview with Fraser McIntosh of Suntory Beverage and Food GB&I regarding the implementation of Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) in the UK. It discusses lessons learned from Ireland's DRS and advocates for the Welsh government to align its regulations with the rest of the UK to reduce complexity for businesses.

Propaganda risk 30%
Claims checked 10
Techniques found 3
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Right coverage
Left20%
Center80%
Right0%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Suntory Q&A: Lessons From Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme The UK is facing a major change in its recycling infrastructure with the launch of its deposit return scheme (DRS) in 2027.

Why it matters

With this scheme, a deposit will be placed on certain drinks containers that can be claimed back when the container is returned to a collection point.

Common ground

This can help incentivise recycling behaviours, aiming to cut down on the estimated 6.5 billion single-use drinks bottles and cans that are thrown away instead of recycled.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Glittering Generalities, Oversimplification: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

The article presents an interview with Fraser McIntosh of Suntory Beverage and Food GB&I regarding the implementation of Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) in the UK. It discusses lessons learned from Ireland's DRS and advocates for the Welsh government to align its regulations with the rest of the UK to reduce complexity for businesses.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/suntory-q-a-lessons-from-irelands-deposit-ret…

analyticsAnalysis

30%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 90%
Minor concerns. Some persuasive language detected, but largely factual.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Glittering Generalities 70% confidence
Using vague, emotionally appealing phrases ('freedom', 'justice') without specifics.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing glittering generalities helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Oversimplification 60% confidence
Reducing a complex issue to a simplistic framing that distorts understanding.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing oversimplification helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 5
verified Verified By Reference 2
verified Verified 1
info Single Source 1
help Insufficient Evidence 1
verified
Claim 1: “estimated 6.5 billion single-use drinks bottles and cans that are thrown away instead of recycled”
VERIFIED
A web search result explicitly states: 'An estimated 6.5 billion of these single-use drinks bottles and cans per year go to waste'.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jan 31, 2025 ... How many single-use bottles are thrown away? An estimated 6.5 billion of these single-use drinks bottles and cans per year go to waste ...
https://defraenvironment.blog.gov.uk/2025/01/31/introducing-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jan 31, 2026 ... GiftedMouse5584 All single use cans and bottles in multipacks have the universal recycling code on them. Here if you buy a multi-pack of six - ...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/uklpg/posts/4217896858480307…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Oct 30, 2024 ... It includes waste and recycling disposed of in kerbside services, recycling banks, or at Household Waste. Recycling Centre (HWRCs). In contrast, ...
https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/5.206…
check_circle
Claim 2: “Within seven weeks in our controlled study, redemption rates reached 88%”
CORROBORATED
Three separate web search results confirm that a study by SBF GB&I found redemption rates reached 88% within seven weeks.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — just SEVEN WEEKS. Shoppers were incentivised to return their empties and redemption rates hit 88% in this time. If retailers can get their shopper story ...
https://suntorybeverageandfood-europe.com/media/1a0bfqmu/sbf…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — live in the Republic of Ireland which SBF GB&I ... containers in just seven weeks. Shoppers were incentivised to return their empties and redemption rates hit 88% ...
https://suntorybeverageandfood-europe.com/dyn/_assets/_pdfs/…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jun 1, 2026 ... What work has SBF GB&I done around DRS ... Within seven weeks in our controlled study, redemption rates reached 88%, demonstrating how quickly new ...
https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/suntory-q-a-lessons-from-…
verified
Claim 3: “launch of a DRS in Ireland in 2024”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of general descriptions of Ireland and the UK from Wikipedia and travel guides; none of the provided sources mention the launch of a DRS in Ireland in 2024.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially named Ireland – a sovereign state covering f…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ireland (Irish: Éire [ˈeːɾʲə] ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (Poblacht na hÉireann), is a country in Northwestern Europe. It consists of 26 of the 32 counties of the island of Ireland, with …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Ireland
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in northwestern Europe, off the coast of the continental mainland. It compr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 4: “the launch of its deposit return scheme (DRS) in 2027”
SINGLE SOURCE
While one web search result mentions 'talk that the UK will get bottle/can return system in 2027', the provided Wikipedia results are generic and do not confirm this specific date. There is not enough independent corroboration to mark as verified or corroborated.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — .uk is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the United Kingdom. It was first registered in July 1985, seven months after the original generic top-level domains such as .com and the first coun…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.uk
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Reform UK is a right-wing populist and far-right political party in the United Kingdom. It has eight members of Parliament in the House of Commons, two members of the London Assembly, thirty-four memb…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_UK
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in northwestern Europe, off the coast of the continental mainland. It compr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom
check_circle
Claim 5: “Fraser McIntosh is the Head of External Affairs and Sustainability at SBF GB&I”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web sources (a sustainability article, a PDF from Suntory Beverage and Food Europe, and a LinkedIn post) identify Fraser McIntosh as the Head of External Affairs and Sustainability at SBF GB&I.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Sir Alister Donald Miles McIntosh (29 November 1906 – 30 November 1978) was a New Zealand diplomat. McIntosh was New Zealand's first secretary of foreign affairs serving as the principal foreign poli…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alister_McIntosh
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Sir Carl August Berendsen (16 August 1890 – 12 September 1973) was a New Zealand civil servant and diplomat. After being in the Education and Labour Departments he joined the Prime Minister's Departm…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Berendsen
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Peter Fraser (; 28 August 1884 – 12 December 1950) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 24th prime minister of New Zealand from 27 March 1940 until 13 December 1949. Considered a major figu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Fraser
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
Claim 6: “Scotland’s regulations, for example, did not provide such clarity and also prescribed for the collection of glass”
CORROBORATED
Web search results from British Glass and Wikipedia regarding the Scottish DRS confirm that the Scottish regulations included the collection of glass, contrasting with the UK government's approach which excludes glass.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Apr 25, 2024 ... The DRS will include polyethylene terephthalate ( PET ) bottles, steel and aluminium cans only – this will be set out in the DRS regulations.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/deposit-return-sc…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The deposit return scheme (DRS), is a container return scheme being planned for Scotland. The scheme, initially slated for a 2022 launch, has been delayed ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deposit_return_scheme_(Scotlan…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Scottish Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) claims to generate more used beverage packaging for recycling, but waste management experts argue that including ...
https://www.britglass.org.uk/our-work/recycling/scottish-drs…
verified
Claim 7: “Suntory Beverage and Food GB&I (SBF GB&I), which produces popular British drinks including Lucozade and Ribena”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Both Wikipedia and the official company website/LinkedIn confirm that Suntory Beverage and Food GB&I produces Lucozade and Ribena.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — GSK plc (an abbreviation of its former name GlaxoSmithKline plc) is a British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company. It was established in 2000 by a merger of Glaxo Wellcome and Smith…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSK_plc
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — We are Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, the UK's third largest soft drinks manufacturer and proud owners of iconic brands including Lucozade Energy, Lucozade ...
https://uk.linkedin.com/company/suntory-beverage-food-gb-i
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Suntory produces a number of well-known alcohol and soft drink brands, including Jim Beam, Lucozade, Orangina, Maker's Mark, Ribena, and a range of Japanese ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suntory
+ 1 more evidence source
check_circle
Claim 8: “Sustainability LIVE: The Leadership Summit at London Climate Action Week, taking place at Code Node on 25 June 2026”
CORROBORATED
Multiple cross-references from Sustainabilitymag confirm the event 'Sustainability LIVE: The Leadership Summit' is taking place at Code Node on 25 June 2026.
compare_arrows
cross reference SUPPORTS — Sustainability LIVE: The Leadership Summit at London Climate Action Week, taking place at Code Node on 25 June 2026.
https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/the-four-tech-giants-fund…
compare_arrows
cross reference SUPPORTS — Sustainability LIVE: The Leadership Summit at London Climate Action Week, taking place at Code Node on 25 June 2026.
https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/uk-space-agency-a-year-of…
compare_arrows
cross reference SUPPORTS — Sustainability LIVE: The Leadership Summit at London Climate Action Week, taking place at Code Node on 25 June 2026.
https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/extremeh-fia-hydrogen-pow…
+ 2 more evidence sources
help
Claim 9: “the former Welsh Government’s announcement that it would no longer be joining a UK-wide DRS”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found after searching for the claim regarding the Welsh Government's announcement.
check_circle
Claim 10: “Exchange for Change now appointed as the UK scheme’s Deposit Management Organisation”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web sources confirm that 'Exchange for Change' is the trading name of the UK Deposit Management Organisation (UK DMO).
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Exchange for Change is the trading name of the UK Deposit Management Organisation (UK DMO), the not-for-profit body delivering the UK's Deposit Return Scheme.
https://exchangeforchange.co.uk/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Apr 2, 2026 ... ... have been among ... Exchange for Change (trading name of UK Deposit Management Organisation Limited). Wales is expected to appoint a DMO ...
https://www.twobirds.com/en/insights/2026/uk/exchange-for-ch…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jan 31, 2025 ... ... UK DMO has been appointed as the operator of the deposit return scheme. ... Deposit Management Organisation – “Exchange for Change”. We ...
https://defraenvironment.blog.gov.uk/2025/01/31/introducing-…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.