Coca-Cola announced today (30 June) it will be using 100% recycled plastic in all on-the-go bottles across its entire range in the UK.
The company says the new bottles will be rolled out in September, and the switch to 100% recycled content will save around 29,000 tonnes per year of plastic.
All bottles 500ml and less will be made of 100% recycled plastic
The move will apply to all plastic Coca-Cola bottles off 500ml or less in the UK.
Previously, the bottles contained 50% recycled content.
Targets
The soft drinks giant said the change is another step towards its target of using 100% recycled or renewable plastic in all its bottles.
The company is also “working on completing the transition” from plastic shrink wrap to cardboard packaging across all drinks multipacks.
It will mean that more than 30 million packs sold to consumers each year will no longer be wrapped in plastic.
DRS
Coca-Cola said that while its bottles have been 100% recyclable “for many years, too many are still not being recycled”.
To make it easier to recycle plastic bottles Coca-Cola says it has been working closely with the Scottish and Westminster governments and industry partners on a “well-designed Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)”.
“This will encourage more people to recycle and ensure a greater collection of bottles in a clean, efficient way so that they can be remade into new bottles again and again,” the company said.
‘Critical point’
Stephen Moorhouse, general manager at Coca-Cola GB, stated: “Increasing the amount of recycled plastic we use is a critical point in our sustainable packaging journey and reaching 100%rPET puts us one step closer to achieving our ambition of a world without waste – collecting and recycling a bottle or can for every one that we sell by 2025.”
‘Delighted’
Environment minister, Rebecca Pow, added: “I am delighted to see Coca-Cola Great Britain taking this significant step to ensure its on-the-go bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic.
Environment minister Rebecca Pow backed the move
“We are committed to crack down on plastic pollution through our landmark reforms such as a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and making manufacturers more responsible for their packaging. Bold measures of this nature from industry will play a huge role in helping us to achieve this ambition.”
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Source: letsrecycle.com Plastic
