The Coca-Cola Company – named the world's worst plastic polluter for six consecutive years – appears to have dropped its pledge to pivot to 25 per cent reusable packaging by 2030.
The company announced the "evolution" of its voluntary environmental goals on Monday as the fifth session of negotiations for a global plastics treaty concluded in Busan, South Korea.Missing from Coca-Cola's list of commitments was a mention of its pledge to have 25 per cent of its drinks sold in refillable or returnable packaging, which was announced with much fanfare in 2022 and which the company called "industry-leading".
"Reusable packaging is among the most effective ways to reduce waste, use fewer resources and lower our carbon footprint in support of a circular economy," The Coca‑Cola Company's senior director of packaging and climate Ben Jordan said at the time.
The pledge was quietly removed from the company's website at some point between 20 November and the start of the negotiations in Busan, a Guardian investigation found.
Coca-Cola accused of "deflecting responsibility"
In lieu of this, the company is prioritising efforts to reduce packaging waste. But these goals, too, have been watered down and pushed back.
Coca-Cola's original aim of having at least 50 per cent recycled content across all its packaging materials by 2030 has now shifted to 35 to 40 per cent recycled content in only its "primary packaging" by 2035.
The company, which has topped the list of the world's worst plastic polluters for six years running, is pledging instead "to ensure the collection of 70 per cent to 75 per cent of the equivalent number of bottles and cans introduced into the market annually". More of this article (Dezeen) - link - more like this (Coca-Cola) - link - more like this (packaging) - link
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