The interconnected global challenges of packaging waste and climate change have made this a focus for our business and communities. Our company and our bottling partners are taking a hard look at the packaging we use and how we can drive change.
Our sustainable packaging strategy aims to create systemic change through a circular economy for our packaging - from how bottles and cans are designed and manufactured to how they’re recycled and reused.
We have a responsibility to help solve the global plastic waste crisis, and we’re leveraging our scale and reach across markets to reach our sustainability goals, suppress waste pollution and reduce our carbon footprint.
We launched World Without Waste in 2018 which centers around three primary goals:
World Without Waste Goals:
Design
Making 100% of our packaging recyclable globally by 2025—and using at least 50% recycled material in our packaging by 2030.
Explore
Collect
Collect and recycle a bottle or can for each one we sell by 2030.
Explore
Partner
Bring people together to support a healthy, debris-free environment.
Explore
61% of the equivalent bottles and cans we introduced into the market in 2022 were collected and refilled or collected for recycling.
The collection rate represents the average collection rate for select primary consumer packaging, which is the percentage of our packaging that was collected for recycling (or refill).
Explore our Progress
90% of our packaging is recyclable globally
We deliver our beverages in a variety of packaging formats—from glass and PET bottles, to aluminum cans, to refillable packaging. Since glass, aluminum and PET plastic are all recyclable materials, they all can play a role in a circular economy.
Explore Packaging Design
Partnering to reduce waste
Global challenges like plastic waste and pollution are far too great for any single government, company, or industry to solve individually. To achieve a World Without Waste, The Coca‑Cola Company is partnering with experts, nonprofits, our industry, and governments to support innovation and actions toward sustainable change across the packaging supply chain.
Explore Partnerships
More than 40 markets currently offer at least one brand in 100% recycled PET (rPET) packaging*
We are working hard towards creating a World Without Waste by increasing our use of recycled content in markets across the globe.
*Excludes cap and label
Timeline
- 1969
- 1978
- 1991
- 1995
- 2004
- 2009
- 2011
- 2017
- 2018-January
- 2018-January
- 2018-May
- 2018-June
- 2018-August
- 2018-September
- 2018-October
- 2018-December
- 2018-December
- 2019-March
- 2019-March
- 2019-June
- 2019-June
- 2019-July
- 2019-August
- 2019-September
- 2019-October
- 2019-October
- 2019-November
- 2019-November
- 2019-November
- 2019-November
- 2019-December
- 2020
- 2020
- 2022
Conducted first study examining environmental impact of beverage and food packaging
Introduced lightweight, resealable – and recyclable – 2-liter polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottle
Introduced first-ever plastic bottle made with recycled content
Co-founded Ocean Conservancy Trash Free Seas Alliance
Formed PET Recycling Company (PETCO), the South African plastic industry’s initiative to recycle 100% of its PET plastic output
Introduced PlantBottle, using 30% plant-based materials in place of petroleum
Invested in major expansion of PetStar, now the largest food-grade PET bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in the world
Developed new packaging strategy
Launched World Without Waste initiative at World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland
Introduced Mexican bottled water brand Ciel in 100% recycled plastic bottles
Signed joint framework with UN Environment to curb plastic waste in Southeast Asia
Launched South African PETCO model in Kenya, in partnership with Kenya Association of Manufacturers
Co-founded UK Plastics Pact, bringing together stakeholders from across the entire plastics value chain to tackle plastic waste
Co-founded World Economic Forum Global Plastic Action Partnership
Invested in Circulate Capital, an impact-investment firm aiming to keep plastic waste out of the world’s oceans
Shared proprietary technology behind PlantBottle to foster bioplastics in packaging
Entered loan agreement with Ioniqa Technologies to transform hard-to-recycle plastic waste into high-quality, food-grade PET plastic
Nine new companies joined Reciclar pelo Brasil, making the co-investment platform - co-founded with AB InBev in 2017 - the largest of its kind, with 15 members and 250 cooperatives
The Coca‑Cola Foundation announced USD $5.4 million in grants to support innovative recycling pilots in seven U.S. locales
Initiated the creation of PETCO Ethiopia—the Ethiopian plastic industry’s initiative to recycle 100% of its PET plastic output
Coca‑Cola Vietnam partnered with several leading food and beverage companies to establish the country’s first industry-led Packaging Recovery Organization
The Coca‑Cola Australia Foundation announced grants of up to USD $600,000 to tackle marine pollution in Australian coastal and inland waterways
Coca‑Cola Beverages Philippines (CCBP) announced investment in a new bottle-to-bottle recycling facility that will be operational in 2021
ALBA Group Asia Limited, Baguio Waste Management & Recycling Limited and Swire Coca‑Cola Limited broke ground on a joint venture to build Hong Kong’s first food-grade PET and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic recycling plant
Coca‑Cola India joined peer companies as a key stakeholder to set up India’s first industry-formed, -owned and -managed multi-material packaging recycling organization — Circular Sustainability Solutions Private Limited — with the goal of collecting half a million metric tons of used packaging by 2025
Introduced the first bottle made from 25% marine plastic, collected from the Mediterranean Sea and beaches, in partnership with Indorama Ventures, Ioniqa Technologies and Mares Circulares
Jointly launched with GA Circular a first-of-its-kind comparative study examining Southeast Asia’s PET plastic bottle collection and recycling landscape — and provided a road map for action to accelerate the circular economy in the region
Introduced minimalist paperboard packaging solution KeelClip™ for multipack cans in Europe, expected to save 2,000 tons of plastic and 3,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually
PRAISE (Packaging and Recycling Alliance for Indonesia Sustainable Environment) announced the Packaging Recovery Organization for Indonesia to improve plastic collection and recycling
The Coca‑Cola Foundation and the Benioff Ocean Initiative announced an $11 million partnership to fund nine river plastic waste prevention programs around the world over the next three years
As of end of year 2019, 16 markets offered beverages packaged in 100% recycled PET (rPET) bottles
Nearly 30 markets offer beverages packaged in 100% recycled PET (rPET) bottles*
*Excludes cap & label
Set a new goal to reduce our use of virgin plastic derived from non-renewable sources by a cumulative 3 million metric tons over the next five years
Announced new global reusable packaging goal.
By 2030, we aim to have at least 25% of our beverages sold by volume worldwide in refillable/returnable glass or plastic bottles or in fountain dispensers with reusable packaging.
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As an environmental sustainability expert with a deep understanding of the challenges posed by packaging waste and climate change, I find it imperative to address the pressing issues that the global community faces. The article highlights the commitment of a major player in the beverage industry, The Coca-Cola Company, toward mitigating the impact of packaging waste on the environment. The company's initiative, World Without Waste, unveiled in 2018, is a comprehensive strategy aimed at addressing the interconnected challenges of packaging waste and climate change.
1. Sustainable Packaging Strategy: The Coca-Cola Company has adopted a sustainable packaging strategy that focuses on creating systemic change through a circular economy for its packaging. This strategy spans the entire lifecycle of packaging, from design and manufacturing to recycling and reuse. The goal is to make 100% of the company's packaging recyclable globally by 2025 and use at least 50% recycled material in packaging by 2030.
2. World Without Waste Goals: The World Without Waste initiative centers around three primary goals:
- Design: Making all packaging recyclable globally by 2025, with at least 50% recycled material by 2030.
- Collect: Commitment to collecting and recycling a bottle or can for each one sold by 2030.
- Partner: Bringing together stakeholders to support a healthy, debris-free environment.
Notably, the company reports that 61% of the bottles and cans introduced in the market in 2022 were collected and refilled or collected for recycling.
3. Recycling Progress: The Coca-Cola Company has achieved a significant milestone with 90% of its packaging being recyclable globally. The company uses various packaging formats, including glass, PET bottles, aluminum cans, and refillable packaging. Since glass, aluminum, and PET plastic are recyclable materials, they contribute to the circular economy.
4. Partnerships and Collaborations: Recognizing the magnitude of global challenges such as plastic waste, pollution, and climate change, The Coca-Cola Company is actively engaging in partnerships with experts, nonprofits, the industry, and governments. These collaborations aim to drive innovation and sustainable actions across the entire packaging supply chain.
5. Timeline of Environmental Initiatives: The timeline provided showcases the company's commitment to environmental sustainability over the years, highlighting key milestones such as the introduction of recyclable plastic bottles, the formation of initiatives to recycle PET plastic output, and partnerships with organizations like the Ocean Conservancy.
6. Investment in Innovation: The Coca-Cola Company is actively investing in innovative technologies and initiatives, such as Circulate Capital, aimed at keeping plastic waste out of oceans. The company has also shared proprietary technology behind initiatives like PlantBottle to foster the use of bioplastics in packaging.
7. Global Reach: The company's efforts extend globally, with more than 40 markets offering at least one brand in 100% recycled PET packaging. This demonstrates a concerted effort to implement sustainable practices across different regions.
8. Reusable Packaging Goal: In line with its commitment to sustainability, The Coca-Cola Company has set a new global goal to have at least 25% of its beverages sold by volume worldwide in refillable/returnable glass or plastic bottles or in fountain dispensers with reusable packaging by 2030.
In conclusion, The Coca-Cola Company's World Without Waste initiative showcases a holistic approach to tackling packaging waste and climate change, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and global collaboration.
