Using more recycled plastic at Coca-Cola Oceania and Amatil NZ

Coca-Cola Oceania and Coca-Cola Amatil NZ have announced an increase in the use of recycled plastic as a solution to the growing packaging problem. Coca-Cola Amatil NZ announced that all plastic bottles smaller than one litre and water bottles of all sizes will be made from entirely recycled plastic, making New Zealand one of the first countries to achieve Coca-Cola’s global sustainable packaging goal.

All packaging smaller than one litre for brands like Coca-Cola, Sprite, POWERADE, Fanta and L&P, as well as Kiwi Blue and Pump water across all pack sizes will be made from recycled plastic, as the company aims to make all bottles with an average of 50% recycled content by 2030.

Richard Schlasberg, General Manager of Coca-Cola Oceania, said: “As one of New Zealand’s largest beverage companies, we have a responsibility to be part of the solution to the plastic waste crisis.”

This move strengthens Coca-Cola’s global commitment to a World Without Waste, renewing focus on the entire packaging lifecycle, from the design to the recycling and repurposing of bottles and cans. Coca-Cola’s commitment to use more recycled plastic goes beyond the Ministry for the Environment’s Plastic Packaging Declaration, as all cans, glass and plastic bottles produced by the company are already recyclable.

The increase in use of recycled plastic in bottles produced by Coca-Cola Amatil New Zealand will dramatically reduce the use of new plastic, said Managing Director Chris Litchfield.

“This means we will avoid using around 2900 tonnes of new plastic and that’s incredibly positive for our environment.”

The initiative is part of Coca-Cola’s international efforts to encourage sustainable practices across all countries where it operates. The Coca-Cola Company strives to reduce waste, and collect and recycle as many cans and bottles as it sells each year by 2030.

Coca-Cola Oceania and Coca-Cola Amatil NZ support a number of grassroots initiatives to help collect and recycle beverage containers including Sea Cleaners, The Public Place Recycling Scheme and the Band Together anti-litter campaign.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/chones