Recyclable packaging has become a notable concern for numerous corporations, reasoned by the demands for better materials that take climate change into account. It’s been confirmed by the Coca-Cola Corporation that they’ve made an innovation at the Brussels Laboratory. An updated bottle design has been created in partnership with Paboco, a bottling company dedicated to sustainable materials. The Coca-Cola Company displayed its prototype for its innovative design via Blog & Instagram. It shows a smaller bottle with a thicker base that could sustain 500ml.

Research teams employed by Paboco & Coco-Cola worked together to develop a sustainable bottle that could be recycled globally. Creation of this environmentally friendly bottle comes after Coca-Cola created the “World Without Waste Initiative”. Coca-Cola hopes that throughout the next decade, they’ll reduce their global footprint by 50%. Considering that Coke’s products are one of the most significant pollutants of plastic worldwide, this initiative will help assist in lowering climate change in accords to the Paris Agreement.

The Coca-Cola Corporation will collect a recyclable bottle for each sold by 2030. This will benefit the multinational company on multiple levels, including lowering their packaging material costs. New infrastructure is being built to account for the extensive recycling, with development slated to reach completion Mid-2029. Chinese, American, and European manufacturing facilities operated by Coca-Cola are being updated with the new infrastructure. It’ll ensure global operations are limited when the conversion from standard packaging material to an eco-friendly option is completed.

The Chosen Material

Revealing the prototype for their 100% recyclable bottle shows a structurally sound product. There isn’t an ounce of plastic located anywhere, with the selected material instead of being paper. However, concerns have been expressed by retailers & consumers regarding the chosen material of paper. Paper cups are known for not supporting prolonged functionality, with the liquid slowly seeping through & creating a soggy texture that inevitably caves on itself. Paboco & Coca-Cola research teams expressed that their initial concern was the structural integrity of paper cups. Researching innovators have admitted that the solution hasn’t been found & that they’ve merely prolonged the process. However, Paboco & Coca-Cola believe it’s the first step to create a sustainable foundation.