UK Edition
Coca-Cola aims to collect and recycle all packaging by 2030
Coca-Cola has become the latest company to address concerns about packaging waste as it unveiled plans to help collect and recycle all of its bottles by 2030.
The soft drinks giant said it was “fundamentally reshaping” its approach to its drinks containers and planned to invest over multiple years to make its packaging completely recyclable in a series of efforts aimed at addressing “issues like packaging litter and marine debris”.
The company joins a host of multinationals that are taking steps to address packaging concerns. Danone’s mineral water brand Evian said earlier this week that it planned to make its plastic bottles 100pc recyclable by 2025.
Supermarket chain Iceland this week committed to eliminate plastic packaging from its own-brand products by the end of 2023, while McDonald’s has said it will use renewable, recycled or certified sources for its packaging by 2025.
Coca-Cola’s rival PepsiCo aims to design 100pc of its packaging to be recyclable, compostable or biodegradable by 2025. The company began a pilot trial for a 100pc plant-based bottle in 2012, though it has yet to see a broad roll-out.
“In partnership with the PepsiCo Foundation, we are working to increase recycling rates. In addition, PepsiCo is a founding member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy, an ambitious, 3-year initiative to build momentum towards a plastics system that works.”
James Quincey, chief executive of Coca-Cola, said: “The world has a packaging problem – and, like all companies, we have a responsibility to help solve it.”
The initiative comes just days after environmental charity Greenpeace delivered a global petition to various Coca-Cola head offices around the world calling on it to end the spread of single-use plastic bottles. The charity estimates that Coca-Cola produces more than 110 billion of these plastic bottles each year, the most commonly found items on the surface of the ocean and on beaches during clean-ups.
Mr Quincey said: “Bottles and cans shouldn’t harm our planet, and a litter-free world is possible.”
The company said that it intended to collect one bottle or can for each that it sells globally and that it would also support collection of bottles and cans from other companies.
Coca-Cola is developing plant-based resins and working to reduce the amount of plastic in each of its containers. The company aims to make bottles with an average of 50pc recycled content by 2030.
It is working with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s new plastics economy initiative, the Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas Alliance and the World Wildlife Fund.
The company has been taking steps to reduce waste in other areas and has already made headway with efforts to replenish an estimated 100pc of the water it uses in its drinks, meeting its goal in 2015.
Meanwhile, high street coffee chains have been attempting to reduce packaging waste by incentivising consumers to bring their own containers for beverages. Pret A Manger increased the discount offered to customers who bring in a reusable coffee cup from 25p to 50p earlier this month. Rival chains Starbucks and Costa offer their customers a 25p discount on hot drinks served in a reusable cup.