Following its pioneering launch of a one-litre bottle made entirely from recycled PET (rPET) for its Kinley brand of packaged drinking water, Coca-Cola India is taking a significant step towards promoting a circular economy. The company has recently announced the introduction of Coca-Cola® in rPET bottles with capacities of 250 ml and 750 ml. These rPET bottles are being produced in partnership with Coca-Cola bottling companies, Moon Beverages Ltd. and SLMG Beverages Ltd.
This expansion of rPET bottles underscores Coca-Cola India’s commitment to building a sustainable and environmentally friendly future. These bottles, crafted from 100% food-grade rPET material (excluding caps and labels), feature an on-pack message urging consumers to “Recycle Me Again” and prominently display “100% recycled PET bottle” on the packaging.
The rPET bottles are manufactured using recycled food-grade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, processed in accordance with the approved technologies of the US FDA and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for food-grade recycled materials. This reduces the reliance on virgin plastic for PET bottle production.
Coca-Cola is now offering 100% rPET bottles in more than 40 markets, aligning with its “World Without Waste” objective of making bottles with 50% recycled content by 2030. This sustainability initiative, launched in 2018, also includes a goal to collect and recycle the equivalent of one bottle or can for every one sold globally by 2030, and to ensure that 100% of its packaging is recyclable by 2025.
Regulatory bodies in India, such as the Food Safety Authority of India (FSSAI), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Bureau of Indian Standards, have approved the use of recycled PET in food packaging, facilitating the use of recycled plastics in the food and beverage industry.
Coca-Cola is making it convenient for consumers to return their empty PET bottles for recycling through drop-off points and Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs). They have also initiated a ‘Return and Recycle’ program in collaboration with Zepto to collect PET bottles directly from consumers, ensuring full traceability. In India, Coca-Cola introduced ASSP (Affordable Small Sparkling Pack) technology for the 250 ml PET bottle, which reduces plastic usage in the production of sparkling product bottles by up to 40%.