Coca-Cola injects €40M in returnable glass bottles in Germany

28 Feb 2023 --- Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) in Germany is investing over €40 million (US$42 million) into returnable glass bottles to improve its reusable packaging capabilities.

The investment will fund a new filling line in Lüneburg, Germany, along with a new packaging machine for glass bottles in Mönchengladbach, Germany, boosting CCEP’s plans to expand the availability of drinks sold in returnable glass bottles. 

With the use of glass bottles expected to grow across Germany over the coming years, this investment is said to help drive progress on environmental sustainability ambitions while meeting market demand. CCEP in Germany introduced a new 1 L glass bottle for Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar in 2019. 

The new filling line in Lüneburg is expected to help decrease carbon emissions from the packaging by shortening the distance traveled from the production line to end consumers in the north of Germany.

Responding to industry trends
Innova Market Insights has identified reusable revival as the fifth packaging trend for 2023. The market researcher highlights that reusability is seen as an important packaging-related purchasing influence by 43% of global consumers – the most widely highlighted aspect and on par with hygiene (42%) and shelf life (42%).

With increasing glass bottle use, the investment will help meet sustainability ambitions and market demand.Meanwhile, the most common reasons for consumers not adopting reusable packaging systems are lack of availability and hygiene, with 29% of global consumers pinpointing these concerns.

The CCEP investment follows another €130 million (US$138 million) investment in the company’s reusable packaging over the last three years, in new filling systems and components and reusable containers. 

The investment is set to generate jobs in the region, with the Lüneburg plant scheduled to go into operation by summer 2024.

Investing in refillable solutions is just one of the ways that CCEP is seeking to eliminate packaging waste and reduce its carbon footprint, in line with its ambition to become net zero by 2040 and reduce emissions across its value chain by 30% by 2030, as part of its sustainability action plan. 

Coca-Cola in the news
The Coca-Cola Company recently spoke to PackagingInsights clarifying ongoing global challenges around meeting the supply demands for sourcing high-quality food-grade recycled PET. 

In another development, Coca-Cola included NaviLens codes on the cardboard casing for GB’s Christmas can multipacks to help shoppers that are partially sighted and have difficulty using traditional signage the opportunity to navigate their way around a shop to find their chosen purchases.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and Coca‑Cola Middle East introduced 100% recycled PET (rPET) bottles for Coca‑Cola’s range of beverages across official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venues, including stadiums and fan zones. 

Aligning with the SC’s key initiatives on responsible plastic recycling, Coca‑Cola Middle East’s pilot of 100% rPET bottles marked the first time the packaging would be in circulation at a FIFA World Cup tournament and serves as Coca‑Cola’s debut in locally producing the bottles in the region.

By Natalie Schwertheim