Coca-Cola has been accelerating its sustainable packaging strategy over the past two years and last month announced the rollout of an innovative new packaging solution. The KeelClip is a cardboard packaging solution that will eliminate the use of more than 200 tonnes of shrink wrap plastic across the island of Ireland annually. KeelClip is now in use on all four-, six- and eight-can packs in the Coca-Cola portfolio in Ireland.
The company has also announced its transition of the well-known green Sprite bottle to a clear bottle. While Sprite bottles have always been 100 per cent recyclable, the colour made it harder for them to be recycled back into clear bottles through mechanical methods. The switch from green to clear will significantly increase the value of the bottles when being reused or repurposed.
“Despite this unpredictable year, as a system, we have remained focused on achieving our ambition of a world without waste,” says Petre Sandru, country manager, Coca-Cola Ireland. “Central to this is our investment in more sustainable packaging design, and ensuring our products are as easy to recycle as possible. Earlier this year we announced our plans to introduce KeelClip packaging and we’re delighted to see it now in market. The transition of the iconic green Sprite bottle to a clear bottle is also another move made by us to ensure our packaging is easy to recycle, enhancing efforts to keep materials in use for as long as possible.”
The company’s efforts won’t stop there. “We’re continuing to champion greater collection and recycling of our packaging, with an ambition to collect back and recycle 100 per cent of all bottles and cans we sell by 2030.”
Ireland and Northern Ireland were among the first European markets chosen by Coca-Cola for the roll out of KeelClip. All of the bottles and cans now sold by Coca-Cola are 100 per cent recyclable and the company has invested extensively in recycled PET in recent years. Today, 45 per cent of its total plastic portfolio is made of recycled materials, which has eliminated the need for 3,450 tonnes of new plastic each year. The Coca-Cola System in Ireland has also reduced the plastic used in its bottles by 10 per cent since 2018, saving 1,000 tonnes of plastic annually.
In 2021, Coca-Cola will also move to cardboard solutions for all larger can multi-packs, eliminating a total of 585 tonnes of plastic annually.
In addition to these initiatives, The Coca-Cola Foundation is supporting environmental charity, Hubbub, and Dublin City Council to roll-out Dublin #CircleCity, a new on-street recycling programme aimed at encouraging the public to recycle plastic bottles and aluminium cans in the city centre.
Hubbub is a charity which explores innovative ways to engage mainstream audiences in important environmental issues. Hubbub’s previous campaigns have included #LeedsByExample, an on-the-go recycling campaign in Leeds. After #LeedsByExample saw on-the-go recycling rates in Leeds almost triple, the scheme was then rolled out in Swansea and Edinburgh and is now being introduced to Ireland for the first time.
The scheme enables Dubliners to recycle their bottles and cans on the go by using 25 bins which have been installed in various locations around the city. It is planned to install more bins in the coming months.
“The Coca-Cola system in Ireland is committed to making packaging waste a problem of the past,” says Sandru. “That requires a focus on the entire packaging lifecycle – from how bottles and cans are designed and made, to how they’re recycled and repurposed. We’ve all seen how the impact of recent months has led to a rise in household waste but also as we all enjoy the outdoors a bit more for picnics and outdoor dining we want to ensure the public has somewhere to recycle their on-the-go waste.
“We are delighted that The Coca-Cola Foundation is supporting Hubbub and Dublin City Council to roll out this pilot project in the city centre. For the first time, the people of Dublin will be able to recycle on the move and we’re excited about the impact this initiative could have on changing the wider public’s on-the-go recycling habits.”