Beverage corporation Coca-Cola has announced it is making huge changes to its products to cut litter and boost recycling.
The company said it would move to attached caps across its entire drinks range with consumers set to see some of the changes implemented as early as this month. The 1.5 litre bottles of Fanta, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Diet Coke will be first swapped in Scotland and it is hoped the entire switch will be completed for all plastic bottles across the range of brands by early 2024.
The move by Coca-Cola Great Britain aims to help consumers recycle and reduce the amount of caps that are often discarded and littered even though all Coca-Cola bottles, including the caps, are 100 per cent recyclable. General manager Jon Woods said the company is hopeful that the "small" change would have "a big impact".
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He said: “As the world’s biggest drinks company, we recognise that we have a leading role to play in pushing innovation and design to produce more high-quality recycled plastic which can be converted into new bottles.”
The initiative, said to be a first for a major soft drinks company, has been met with praise. Adam Herriott, from waste reduction organisation Wrap, said: “This great move from Coca-Cola Great Britain supports the ongoing work with the UK Plastics Pact in trying to ensure that as much plastic packaging is captured and recycled as possible.
“In 2020, we saw the amount of plastic packaging being recycled increase from 44 per cent to 52 per cent. The small changes are what adds up to make a big difference and when it comes to recycling, the higher quality of the material the better. We look forward to seeing more innovations in this area.”
Resources and waste minister Jo Churchill said: “More businesses are finding innovative ways to tackle harmful plastic pollution and Coca-Cola’s new design will make it easier for people to recycle and help reduce litter.”
This is the latest in a series of initiatives by brands and retailers under the UK Plastics Pact to reduce plastic waste and boost recycling. However, a deposit return scheme – planned since 2018 – has been repeatedly delayed.
The government pledged to bring in the provision in 2023 but a recent consultation indicated a scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will not be up and running until late 2024 at the earliest.
