In 1927, Coca-Cola advertised its soft drink with the slogan “Pure as Sunlight,” associating the brand with authenticity, freshness, and nature. A large number of companies today aim to convey the natural qualities of their products and commitment to “going green.” For these initiatives to be successful, the message must be completed throughout the entire supply chain. Coca-Cola is a great example of a business that has committed itself to more sustainable practices, which we can see right on the supermarket shelves.
This month, the company unveiled an innovative new bottle made from 100 percent renewable plant materials. Though the classic beverage inside is tasty enough to satisfy your sweet tooth, this particular environmentally friendly packaging is made from sugarcane, rendering it fully recyclable and appealing to those concerned with the waste produced by un-recycled plastic. This beverage container is not the first of its kind — Coca-Cola debuted the prototype for its PlantBottle in 2009, and the company hopes to use only environmentally friendly packaging of this nature by 2020.
According to Coca-Cola Enterprise’s 10th annual Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Report, the company’s packaging accounts for nearly half of the carbon emissions in its supply chain. To produce traditional plastic bottles, large amounts of fossil fuels are burnt in the manufacturing and distribution process. This new packaging solution is part of a commitment to sustainability and support of a circular economy.
Additionally, Coke says it will now have all of its cardboard and corrugated packaging certified by the Forest Stewardship Council by the end of this year. The company vows to use renewable materials that can be fully recycled, and it has set a goal to use 25 percent less material across all of its packaging formats, including aluminum and glass.
Coca-Cola certainly isn’t the first or only business seeking out more holistic solutions and environmentally friendly approaches to its product packaging. We’re seeing more and more companies choosing flexible retail packaging not only to cut shipping costs, but also because they recognize these products are more lightweight to transport and therefore use up less fuel to deliver. Spouted stand up pouches are a solution many companies are choosing to package their liquids and beverages, as they use up less material than rigid glass and plastic.
Coca-Cola has trimmed the weight of its 20-ounce PET bottle by more than 25 percent and more than 50 percent for its glass bottles. The company is heading in the right direction and recognizes consumer demand for safe, environmentally friendly packaging. Customers want to recycle – especially millennials, one of the current largest spending groups — and businesses must take action along the entire supply chain to incorporate recycle and sustainable practices into the organization.
Related Articles:
http://www.standuppouches.net/blog/earth-day-%E2%80%93-environmentally-friendly-packaging-the-5-rs
http://www.standuppouches.net/blog/environmentally-friendly-packaging-for-retail-a-review
http://www.standuppouches.net/blog/spouted-pouches-eco-friendly-option-for-liquid-packaging
