Coca-Cola, the world’s largest beverage company, has introduced a new design for its plastic bottles to improve recycling efforts. The new design features a cap firmly attached to the rest of the bottle, making recycling easier. The new design will completely replace the old design on store shelves during the first half of this year.
The new cap ensures that all bottle parts remain together, even after consumption, making collecting and recycling them more straightforward. This innovation should also lead to less waste being produced. Coca-Cola announced the new design in a press release.
The key innovation is a ring around the neck of the bottle, to which the cap is attached using a loop. It will also continue to serve as an airtight seal for the drink. Consumers should be able to enjoy their drinks as they have in the past, but with the added benefit of easier recycling.
“This new functional design ensures that the cap remains firmly attached to the bottle after opening, thereby reducing the risk of it being thrown away and providing our customers with the experience they are accustomed to,” said Martina Lovětínská, Marketing Director of Coca-Cola HBC Czech Republic and Slovakia. The change applies to Coca-Cola’s entire portfolio of plastic bottles.
Coca-Cola conducted extensive market research and consumer testing before introducing the new design. The results indicated the most convenient way to consume the drink was with the open cap. Practical benefits will also be felt by people with disabilities or drivers, who can quickly close the bottle with one hand.
Coca-Cola’s plastic bottles are 100% recyclable, but not all of them end up in the recycling process. Caps often end up in mixed waste, where their further use is impossible. The new design will help ensure that all bottle parts are collected and recycled, reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
This new design from Coca-Cola is a step in the right direction for improving the recycling efforts of the beverage industry. The company is taking a positive step toward a more sustainable future by making it easier for consumers to recycle their bottles. However, there is still more work to be done to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated by the industry, and this should be a priority for all beverage companies.