We have announced that we have reached a key milestone on our journey to a World Without Waste as we reduced plastic use by almost 5,000 tonnes a year since 2019.
This move has been facilitated through the completion of a €13m investment in our plant at Knockmore Hill, Lisburn, Co. Antrim. The investment combined with other measures across our packs is a further sign of the Coca-Cola system’s commitment to creating a true circular economy.
We will also be moving all multi-pack cans within the range to more sustainable cardboard packaging. The move will apply to all products within the multi-pack can range, including Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite.
Larger multi-packs (10, 12, 20 and 24 cans) will be available in cardboard packaging from April 2021. This follows the introduction of new ‘KeelClip’ late last year, that saw smaller multi-packs (4, 6 and 8 cans) transition to an innovative cardboard solution.
In total, the move to more sustainable cardboard packaging will eliminate 500 tonnes of hard-to-recycle shrink wrap plastic annually.
This is the latest move in the our global sustainable packaging strategy, World Without Waste, which aims to design more sustainable packaging and to collect and recycle the equivalent of every can or bottle it sells globally by 2030.
We’re immensely proud to be the first soft drink producer in Ireland to move all our multi-pack cans to more sustainable cardboard solutions. This move helps us to move closer to our vision for a World Without Waste, by eliminating the use of more than 500 tonnes of shrink wrap plastic each year.
Miles karemacher
Coca-cola hbc ireland and northern ireland general manager
“Combined with our investment in more recycled plastic and our reduction of plastic use overall, we have reduced our plastic use by almost 5000 tonnes annually, since 2019.”
As we navigate the reopening of the economy, we remaincommitted to achieving our ambition of creating a World Without Waste. Investment in product innovation and sustainable design is at the heart of our strategy, ensuring that all of our products are easy to recycle. The move to sustainable cardboard packaging on all our multi-can packs will help reduce our plastic use and make it easier for our consumers to recycle.
Agnese filippi
Coca-cola ireland country manager
Recently we ranked global number 1 sustainable beverage company by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, recognising our commitment to creating and sharing value for all stakeholders.
Key to this commitment is a focus on designing more sustainable packaging to create a true circular economy for waste. In Ireland and Northern Ireland, all of the bottles and cans we sell are 100% recyclable and we have invested extensively in recycled plastic. Today 45% of our total plastic portfolio is made of recycled materials, which has removed 3,450 tonnes of new plastic each year. Plastic used in our bottles has also been reduced by 10% since 2018.
