Coca-Cola will soon begin selling sodas in completely recycled plastic in the U.S. for the first time, reports Industry Week (Feb. 9, 2021) . The initial items will be introduced this month in a group of states that includes California and Florida, for drinks such as Sprite, Coke, and Diet Coke in 13.2-ounce bottles made from 100% recycled plastic.
The company — which has been named a top plastic polluter by a leading non government organization (NGO) — will soon distribute additional soda and bottled water items from completely recycled packages. The U.S. is the 19th market worldwide where Coca-Cola now sells item entirely made of recycled packaging. The new measures amount to a 20% reduction in the company’s use of new plastic across North America compared to 2018. They will collectively reduce 10,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually in the U.S. – the equivalent of taking 2,120 cars off the road for one year
Concerns about plastic waste “continue to be top of mind for our consumers,” said Coke’s VP for sustainability, adding that the new steps are “a major milestone in a large and complex market. Introducing 100% recycled PET bottles is a big proof point of how recycling can help create a circular economy.” Coca-Cola has set a target of using at least 50% recycled content in packaging by 2030.
In 2020, the group Break Free From Plastic placed Coca-Cola, along with PepsiCo and Nestle, as the world’s “top plastic polluters” for the third year in a row and called on the groups to end single-use plastic packaging worldwide.
Classroom discussion questions:
- How does this move relate to the Triple Bottom Line discussed in Supp. 5 of your text?
- Why is plastic waste a major issue?