Coca-Cola reveals new sustainable packaging strategy for Great Britain
Coca-Cola European Partners has unveiled its new GB sustainable packaging strategy – setting out an ambition for its GB business unit to work with local and national partners to recover all of its packaging so that more is recycled and none ends up as litter.
At present, only 70% of the cans and 57% of the plastic bottles used each year are recycled, CCEP believes these figures should be higher. Through its new GB sustainable packaging strategy, the company sets out the key actions it will take, and the areas where it will look to work with others, to improve the recovery and recycling of drinks packaging, and to reduce littering in Great Britain.
The new strategy is focused on three key areas: continuing to innovate to ensure its packaging is as sustainable as possible; investing in consumer communication to promote recycling and encourage behaviour change; and championing reform of the UK recycling system to ensure more packaging is recovered and recycled.
Leendert den Hollander, vice president and general manager at Coca-Cola European Partners GB, says, “We have long been committed to reducing the environmental impact of our packaging. We have ensured that all our bottles and cans are 100% recyclable; we have reduced the weight of our packs as much as possible; and have a long-standing commitment to use locally-sourced rPET and other recycled materials in our packaging.
“Our desire to double the amount of recycled material we use in our plastic bottles sends a clear signal that we want to play a positive role in supporting the circular economy here in Great Britain. Our ambition – and our ability to go further in the future – will require reform of the packaging collection system in Great Britain and we will work with others to champion the changes that are required to ensure all our valuable materials are recovered.”
