The Coca-Cola European Partners has announced that cardboard drink packaging will be used in place of plastic shrink-wrap in Great Britain in a bid to offer consumers a more eco-friendly alternative. The new announcement affects the brands entire portfolio of products including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, Fanta, Lilt and Dr Pepper, which sell more than 30 million packs per year.
The new cardboard drink packaging will be rolling out over the course of the next 18 months and boasts a sustainably sourced profile that's also 100% recyclable.
The packaging change was addresses by Vice President and General Manager for Coca-Cola European Partners GB Leendert den Hollander who said, "We want to make it as easy as possible for consumers to recycle our packaging after they’ve enjoyed our drinks. All our cans are 100% recyclable but we know it is a challenge for consumers to recycle the plastic we use for our multipacks. By replacing shrink-wrap with cardboard, which is collected by virtually every household system in the country, we are eliminating a hard-to-recycle material from our supply chain. Changing all our canning lines over the next 18 months is a complex project. But we believe it is the right thing to do and we would encourage others in the sector to follow our lead."
Cardboard Drink Packaging Initiatives
Coca-Cola is Eliminating Shrink-Wrap from All Products
Trend Themes
1. Cardboard Packaging - The trend of using cardboard packaging instead of plastic shrink-wrap offers a more eco-friendly alternative.
2. Sustainable Sourcing - The trend towards using sustainably sourced materials in packaging contributes to a more environmentally friendly supply chain.
3. Recyclable Packaging - The trend of using 100% recyclable packaging materials provides consumers with easier recycling options.
Industry Implications
1. Beverage Packaging - The beverage packaging industry can capitalize on the trend of using cardboard packaging to offer more sustainable options to consumers.
2. Plastic Recycling - The plastic recycling industry can benefit from the trend of replacing plastic shrink-wrap with more easily recyclable materials like cardboard.
3. Consumer Goods - The consumer goods industry can incorporate the trend of using recyclable packaging materials to meet consumer demand for more sustainable products.