Coca-Cola Europacific Partners — Re-Thinking Packaging

As the preferred supplier for the Cold Beverages category for Foodbuy and Compass Group, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has been at the forefront of sustainability efforts both in Australia and around the globe.

In particular, innovating its packaging so that it’s less carbon-intensive has been critical to achieving this goal.

It’s broadly understood that packageless beverages, when dispensed into reusable cups, are more environmentally friendly than other packaging types. However, they’re not always practical for consumers, who, for various reasons, continue to seek out bottled beverages.

One of the most effective ways of reducing the carbon emissions associated with bottled beverages is to increase the amount of recycled content they’re made from.

This is especially true of plastic. Contrary to popular belief, bottles made of recycled PET plastic (rPET) emit less carbon than aluminium cans and non-refillable glass bottles.

It’s a key reason why 7 out of 10 of  CCEP’s plastic bottles are made from 100% rPET, and many other industry players are striving to do the same.

In 2023, the percentage of PET bottles produced was 72.3% which is up by 3.1% vs 2022.

In addition, the primary packaging collected for recycling as a percentage of total primary packaging is currently 60.3%.

COLLECTING WHAT WE CONSUME
Capturing used containers through Container Deposit Schemes (CDS) is essential to these efforts. The more plastic bottles we collect via the CDS, the more rPET there is available to be used by manufacturers like CCEP in their packaging.

Put simply, these schemes help to close the loop on plastic bottles; ensuring they’re kept out of our oceans and waterways so they can be recycled and re-used, again and again.

Recognising this, CCEP is actively involved as either a scheme coordinator or operator of Container Deposit Schemes in all states and territories.

A TRULY CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Essential as they are, Container Deposit Schemes are by no means the sole prerequisite of a truly circular economy.

Once a bottle is collected, it needs to be washed, shredded and transformed into pellets. This recycled raw material can then be turned into preforms, which are blown into new plastic bottles. The process is complex and requires fit-for-purpose infrastructure.

CCEP is part of Circular Plastics Australia (PET) – a joint venture with Pact Group, Cleanaway Waste Management, Asahi Beverages. Circular Plastics Australia (PET) has invested in the construction and ongoing operation of two, state-of-the-art PET recycling plants.

Together, the facilities will be able to recycle the equivalent of around 2 billion PET bottles each year.

The first facility opened earlier this year in Albury, NSW. A second site is currently under construction in North Altona, VIC, and is scheduled to open in 2023.

Cleanaway will provide the plastic to be recycled through its collection and sorting network, Pact will operate the facilities, while Asahi Beverages, CCEP and Pact will buy the recycled plastic from the sites to use in their packaging.