The era has come to an end. Sprite, a soft drink packaged in green bottles, has been iconic for more than 60 years.
On Wednesday, the corporation revealed that beginning on August 1st, North America will see Sprite, produced by the Coca-Cola Co., Being packaged in transparent plastic bottles.
The company states that to produce future bottles, they can enhance the amount of recycled plastic in order to meet the demand. Coca-Cola also claims that by packaging Sprite in transparent plastic, the bottles will have a higher potential for multiple recycling cycles.
Julian Ochoa, the CEO of R3CYCLE, a plastic recycling company collaborating with Coca-Cola, stated that removing colors from bottles enhances the caliber of the recycled substance.
Sprite green bottles, which are often recycled, are difficult to recycle again compared to items like carpeting and clothes. During the recycling process, plastic bottles are typically separated, with clear plastic bottles kept separate from colored ones to prevent discoloration. Coca-Cola stated that clear plastic bottles are separated from colored ones in order to maintain the quality of the recycled plastic. Green Sprite bottles were already recyclable.
Environmental groups say single-use plastic is the problem
Environmental organizations claim that the issue with Sprite containers is not the hue, but rather the substance: disposable plastic.
Kate Melges, who heads the Plastics Project at Greenpeace, expressed, “We are currently facing a significant crisis of plastic pollution, and relying solely on recycling is not a viable solution.” She further criticized Coca-Cola’s recent declaration as another obvious attempt at misleading environmental advertising, coming from one of the most severe contributors to plastic pollution worldwide.
Coca-Cola produces more than 100 billion plastic bottles, making it one of the world’s largest single users of waste plastic, according to data provided to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in 2019.
PET, also known as polyethylene terephthalate, is a type of plastic that is commonly used to make lightweight, recyclable, and food-safe bottles for soft drinks and other beverages.
According to the EPA, in the United States, only approximately 29% of PET plastic is recycled.
“An ocean conservation organization, Oceana, said Matt Littlejohn, bottles with recycled content will still be thrown away, sent to landfills, or littered.”
Companies that manufacture food and drinks are being encouraged to prioritize sustainability by refraining from producing new plastic in light of concerns regarding disposable plastic.
Coca-Cola has previously pledged to boost sustainability
By 2025, Coca-Cola aims to achieve a 100% increase in the portion of its packaging that is recyclable, which is currently at 90%. Additionally, by 2030, Coca-Cola aims to increase the percentage of recycled material used in its packaging to 50%, which is currently at 23%. In the past, Coca-Cola has made several commitments to sustainability.
Coca-Cola has recently experimented with bottles made entirely of recyclable PET, also known as rPET, using plant-based materials.
“Establishing a viable stream of top-notch resources is the initial stage in expanding the utilization of 100% rPET throughout our range,” stated Chris Vallette, Coca-Cola’s senior vice president of technical innovation and stewardship. The current demand for rPET surpasses its availability.
The clear Sprite bottles were first introduced last year in a smaller, 13.2-oz bottle, in a handful of regions across the U.S.
Other Coca-Cola beverages that are packaged in green plastic bottles, such as Fresca, Seagram’s, and Mello Yello, will also make the switch from clear plastic bottles.
The statement released by the company also announced that Dasani, Coca-Cola’s bottled water brand, will be packaged entirely in bottles made from recycled plastic, resulting in a minuscule fraction of the company’s overall production plastic. Additionally, it is estimated that this initiative will save more than 20 million pounds of newly created plastic in 2019.
Greenpeace and Oceana, environmental organizations, have urged the company to transition from disposable plastic bottles to reusable ones.
Coca-Cola states that by 2030, at least 25% of its beverages will be sold globally in containers that are returnable or reusable. This includes drinks sold in glass bottles and soda fountains. The company also mentions that in 2020, they achieved a 16% increase in sales of packaging that is returnable and refillable.