Coca-Cola transitions to 100% rPET in Norway and the Netherlands

As part of its sustainability programmes, Coca-Cola has announced that from October 2020, all small Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta bottles produced in the Netherlands will be made from 100% recycled PET (rPET) (large bottles will follow next year). The switch will be made in Norway during the first half of 2021.

According to the multinational’s estimates, in the Netherlands the switch will eliminate 10,000 tonnes of virgin oil-based plastic, amounting to a 21% reduction in the carbon footprint of its plastic bottles per year compared to current packaging, which already consists of more than 50% rPET. In Norway, where Coca-Cola uses just 25% recycled PET, the transition will bring a 28% reduction in the carbon footprint and eliminate around 4,300 tonnes of virgin plastic.

The two countries follow closely behind Sweden, where Coca-Cola began the transition in early 2020. In Sweden, the exclusive use of rPET should save a further 3,500 tonnes of virgin plastic and reduce the carbon footprint by a quarter.

“We began the switch to 100% rPET in Northern Europe because these countries have efficient waste recycling systems and Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) that enable us to source local high-quality recycled PET,” explains Joe Franses, Vice President Sustainability at Coca-Cola European Partners. “Our goal is to remove 200,000 tonnes of virgin plastic from the market throughout Western Europe over the next decade.”

Image credits: Coca-Cola European Partners