Coca-Cola to begin recycling bottles, cans

COCA-Cola is pledging to keep more of its cans and bottles out of landfills.

The company has said that it will make a concerted effort to recycle and use more environmentally friendly packaging over the next 12 years.

Coke is dubbing it the “World Without Waste” initiative.

In a statement outlining its plan, Coke said by the year 2030, it will collect and recycle one bottle or can for every bottle or can it sells.

The company “is investing its marketing dollars and skills behind this 100 per cent collection goal to help people understand what, how and where to recycle,” according to a press release. “We will support collection of packaging across the industry, including bottles and cans from other companies.”

Coke said it will also make bottles with an average of 50 per cent recycled content by 2030, and that it ultimately aims to use only recyclable materials.

Coke said it is working to develop packaging that uses “plant-based” ingredients, or that use less plastic.

“Bottles and cans shouldn’t harm our planet, and a litter-free world is possible,” Coke CEO James Quincey said in a statement.

“Consumers around the world care about our planet, and they want and expect companies to take action.”

Environmental advocacy group Greenpeace said it is not impressed by Coke’s plan.

“Instead of focusing on reducing the amount of plastic it produces, the sure fire way to reduce ocean plastic pollution, Coca Cola is trying to offset its huge plastic footprint by investing in a bit more recycling,” said Louise Edge, senior oceans campaigner for Greenpeace in the UK, in a statement.

Greenpeace called Coke’s plan a “Band-Aid” that won’t meaningfully change the amount of plastic entering waterways.