Coca-Cola GB ends use of virgin plastic in on-the-go bottles

Coca-Cola – in partnership with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP, formerly Coca-Cola European Partners) – has announced the transition to 100% recycled plastic in all on-the-go bottles in Great Britain.

The transition involves all 500ml or less plastic bottles and covers the company’s entire portfolio of brands including Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Dr Pepper and Lilt.

The achievement sees Coca-Cola Great Britain up the amount of recycled plastic material used in on-the-go bottles from its 50% milestone to 100%. The shift to 100% rPET bottles follows in the footsteps of other markets including Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.  

The first 100% rPET bottles will start appearing on shelves in September, and will continue to be recyclable.

Coca-Cola projects that its use of recycled plastics in the region now saves 29,000 tonnes of virgin plastic each year. Additionally, the soft drinks giant is completing the transition from plastic shrink wrap to cardboard packaging across all multipacks.

Stephen Moorhouse, general manager at CCEP GB, said:“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.” 

Helen Bird, strategic technical manager of WRAP, added: “It takes 75% less energy to make a plastic bottle from recycled plastic, and with plastic waste significantly contributing to fossil emissions when incinerated it’s never been more important to specify recycled content and keep packaging in a circular system.

“It’s positive to see Coke, founding members of The UK Plastics Pact, continuing to push the boundaries on design and engaging with its customers to place the bottles in the recycling, since achieving 100% recycled content is going to be strongly reliant on getting those bottles back.” 

The new company name Coca-Cola Europacific Partners was established following the completion of Coca-Cola European Partners’ takeover of Coca-Cola Amatil in May.