Coca-Cola today announced an industry-first goal to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle or can it sells globally by 2030.
The company and its global network of bottling partners will tackle the ambitious goal, which is part of a holistic plan called “World Without Waste,” through a renewed focus on the entire packaging lifecycle – from how bottles and cans are designed and made, to how they’re recycled and repurposed.
“Consumers around the world care about our planet. They want and expect companies like ours to be leaders and help make a litter-free world possible,” said James Quincey, president and CEO, The
Quincey, who heads to Davos, Switzerland next week for the World Economic Forum annual meeting, said the company will continue to focus on developing 100-percent recyclable packaging and reducing the amount of plastic in its bottles.
The company’s World Without Waste vision is the next step in a larger strategy to grow with conscience by doing business the right way, not just the easy way.
To that end,
Further, in 2009,
To help improve recycling rates, Coke will apply its global marketing muscle to help educate the public on what, how and where to recycle. The company also will continue to team with local communities, NGOs, industry peers and consumers to help make recycling easier and more accessible for everyone by improving local recycling systems and driving policy change that supports a truly circular economy.
In 2002,
These investments are paying off. In 2016, Mexico recycled 57 percent of the PET plastic it produced (up from 9 percent in 2002), making it the leading country globally for PET recycling.
Coke’s 100% collection and recycling goal will primarily focus on bottles, cans, and caps made from glass, PET plastic, or aluminum – which represent approximately 85 percent of its packaging – but also includes packages produced by other companies.
“We believe every package – regardless of where it comes from – has value and life beyond its initial use,” Quincey added. “If something can be recycled, it should be recycled. So we want to help people everywhere understand how to do their part.”
To help tackle existing packaging waste,
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