By the end of next year, Coca-Cola Australian will have reduced the amount of "virgin” plastic it uses by 40,000 tonnes since 2017, eliminating problematic polystyrene - plastic that is unable to be recycled and reused – from Coca-Cola’s cold drink portfolio.
It is Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week (November 9-15) and as a major sponsor of the environmental initiative, Coca-Cola Australia has announced the continued reduction of its plastic footprint with the introduction of frozen drink cups and lids made entirely from recycled plastic from 2021.
Russell Mahoney, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Director, Coca-Cola South Pacific said, “Last year we made some big changes in Australia, including moving all our plastic bottles under one litre to 100 per cent recycled plastic and removing plastic drinking straws and stirrers.
“We have a responsibility to reduce our environmental footprint through innovation to help solve the plastic waste issue. Moving our frozen drinks lids and cups to recycled plastic is the next step towards meeting Coca-Cola’s global commitment to reduce plastic waste,” Mr Mahoney said.
Rebecca Gilling, Deputy CEO, Planet Ark said, “It’s encouraging to see big companies like Coca-Cola really step up and take responsibility for the full life cycle of their packaging and committing to using more recycled content. Replacing virgin plastic with 40,000 tonnes of recycled plastic is not only a huge market signal, it prevents another 40,000 tonnes of virgin material entering our world.”
“This year’s National Recycling Week theme is all about recovery and how we can all recycle and reuse materials – it’s a great fit to Coca-Cola’s commitment to reducing its plastic footprint, and we’re thrilled to be working together again this year,” Ms Gilling said.
Under its World Without Waste vision, Coca-Cola has a global goal to collect and recycle a bottle or can for every one it sells by 2030 and ensuring none of its containers end up in landfill or oceans. Its bottler Coca-Cola Amatil plays a key role in co-ordinating all six operating container deposit schemes (CDS) around Australia.
Coca-Cola also has a global goal to use at least 50 per cent recycled material across its packaging by 2030, with Australia already achieving this goal in plastic bottles.
The new frozen cups and lids made of recycled plastic will be available from early 2021.
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