Coca-Cola launches 100% rPET bottles in India and Philippines despite recyclate supply struggles

09 Oct 2023 --- Coca-Cola India and Coca-Cola Philippines are taking steps to promote a circular economy for plastic packaging by introducing 100% recycled PET (rPET) beverage bottles. 

The Coca–Cola Company (TCCC) now offers 100% rPET bottles in over 40 markets, accelerating its “World Without Waste” goal of making bottles with 50% recycled content by 2030. 

“We seek to drive a circular economy for our packaging to reduce waste and carbon emissions. We’re working to increase recycled content in our packaging, expand our use of refillable bottles and collect packaging for recycling through our World Without Waste initiative,” says Enrique Ackermann, vice president of Technical and Innovation at Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia.

But, the “world’s worst plastic polluter for a fifth consecutive year” is allegedly “struggling” to source plastic at a “reasonable price” in Asia. Speaking to Packaging Insights earlier this year, a TCCC spokesperson said that the ongoing challenges around meeting the supply demands for sourcing high-quality food-grade rPET globally are “well-known.”

TCCC’s World Without Waste initiative announced in 2018 includes a goal to collect and recycle the equivalent of a bottle or can for every one the company sells globally by 2030 and to make 100% of its packaging recyclable by 2025.

Coca-Cola India has launched 100% recycled PET bottles in the carbonated beverage category.Filipino circularity 
Coca-Cola Philippines is promoting a circular economy for plastic packaging in the country by introducing more bottles made from 100% rPET for Coca-Cola Original in 190 mL and 390 mL and Wilkins Pure in 500 mL. 

The company has also established over 2,000 recycling drop-off points in sari-sari stores (convenience stores) and carinderias (Filipino eateries) nationwide to allow consumers to return empty bottles. 

Additionally, Coca-Cola Philippines has partnered with Plastic Bank Philippines to activate 33 recyclable waste collection branches in Cavite and Laguna. This partnership has collected over 8.7 million plastic bottles and improved the livelihoods of informal waste sector workers.

“To meet the demands of scaling up rPET supply, we need to build a sustainable pipeline of high-quality materials. Together with our bottling partner, we are investing in packaging circularity in the Philippines. We do this by partnering with communities, small business owners, recyclers and the government to support the collection and recycling of our plastic bottles, help create job opportunities, support livelihoods and reduce plastic waste,” a Coca-Cola Philippines spokesperson shares with Packaging Insights.

“Our bottling partner, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, has also helped establish PETValue Philippines, the country’s first bottle-to-bottle recycling facility through a joint venture with Indorama Ventures. The rPET bottles produced at this facility have enabled the recent launch of our new 100% rPET packaging for Coca-Cola and Wilkins products in the Philippines.”

Coca-Cola Philippines has also launched the “May Ikabobote Pa” sustainable packaging platform to engage and educate consumers about ongoing actions to address plastic waste. 

The platform features enhanced recycling messages on labels, on-ground recycling activities at consumer events, digital-led communications and partnerships with 7-Eleven stores and Shell stations to make recycling more convenient and rewarding for consumers.

Additionally, Coca-Cola Philippines has initiated the “Tapon to Reborn” employee engagement program, encouraging employees to collect and recycle PET bottles, cans and beverage cartons, with proceeds supporting reforestation efforts.Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines has established PETValue Philippines, the country’s first bottle-to-bottle recycling facility through a joint venture with Indorama Ventures.

Indian rPET 
Coca-Cola India, the first company in the country to introduce one-liter bottles made from 100% rPET for its Kinley brand, is now expanding its commitment to circularity with the launch of Coca-Cola in rPET bottles, available in 250 mL and 750 mL sizes. 

The rPET bottles in India are produced with Coca-Cola bottling partners Moon Beverages and SLMG Beverages. “PET plastic bottles have value beyond their first life. Our new bottles made with food-grade rPET are recyclable and can become a new bottle — rPET is a big move in the right direction to embrace plastic circularity in India,” says Sanjeev Agarwal, chairman at Moon Beverages.

Except for caps and labels, these bottles are made from 100% food-grade rPET. They feature an on-pack call to action with the message “Recycle Me Again” and prominently display “100% recycled PET bottle” on the packaging. 

Coca-Cola India details that the Food Safety Authority of India has approved the use of rPET in food packaging, and the Government of India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Bureau of Indian Standards have “enabled befitting regulations and standards to facilitate the use of recycled plastics in food and beverage packaging.”

Coca-Cola India also encourages consumers to return empty PET bottles by recycling them at “conveniently placed” drop-off points or Reverse Vending Machines. 

Earlier this year, Coca-Cola India launched a Return and Recycle initiative with Zepto, focusing on gathering PET bottles directly from consumers. This also helps establish an organized process of collecting PET bottles with 100% traceability.

By Radhika Sikaria