Nestlé Waters North America has started adding How2Recyle instructions to the labels on its half-litre bottles, making it the first beverage manufacturer in the North America to do so.

The company anticipates to complete the How2Recycle transition and roll out by next month.

The instructions can be seen on its Nestlé Pure Life water brand, as well as its regional spring water brands such as Poland Spring, Deer Park, Ice Mountain, Zephyrhills, Ozarka and Arrowhead.

According to the company, unclear labelling and variations in the recycling programmes have made recycling a challenge in the US.

The first How2Recycle label was created in 2012 by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, a membership-based collaborative comprising businesses, educational institutions and government agencies, to help make recycling easier for consumers.

“Nestlé Waters' confident move to put the How2Recycle label so prominently on so many bottles is a statement that they are serious about helping people recycle more and better."

Sustainable Packaging Coalition How2Recycle lead Kelly Cramer said: "We cannot overstate the environmental importance of the 'Empty & Replace Cap' instruction on these bottles; it means fewer loose caps will have the potential to get into our waterways and oceans.

“Importantly, it also helps ensure that the caps will be recycled. That's because when caps are replaced on bottles that go through the recycling stream, it's less likely that they will fall through recyclers' equipment and be discarded.

“Nestlé Waters' confident move to put the How2Recycle label so prominently on so many bottles is a statement that they are serious about helping people recycle more and better."

Currently adopted by more than 65 brands and retailers, the How2Recycle label can be found on thousands of products in the US.

Nestlé Waters North America chief sustainability officer Nelson Switzer said: "Our goal has been to find a compelling and simple way to educate and encourage all Americans to recycle the bottle.

"By adopting the How2Recycle label, millions of consumers will now have a clear and consistent recycling guide on the side of the bottle, driving recovery of the bottle and a reduction in environmental impact.”

How2Recycle is the only standardised labelling system based in the US that provides information about the recyclability on the packaging.