In the Philippines and around the world, plastic waste pollution continues to be a pressing issue.
As a beverage company, Coca-Cola recognizes its role in helping tackle the global plastic waste issue and helping drive a sustainable, efficient circular economy for packaging. Committed to providing solutions towards a more sustainable future, Coca-Cola Philippines is working with partner communities to contribute to The Coca-Cola Company’s global vision of a World Without Waste. It is a vision anchored in the company’s ambition to help collect and recycle the equivalent of every single can and bottle they sell by 2030.
This sustainable packaging initiative encompasses three fundamental goals: Design, Collect, and Partner. It re-envisions everything from the design of packaging of Coca-Cola products to new collaborations to improve packaging collection and recycling initiatives in the community.
Innovative design solutions for less waste
Design solutions are a key area in Coca-Cola’s waste management efforts. By 2025, the company aims to make 100% of its packaging recyclable globally and use at least 50% recycled material in packaging by 2030. Coca-Cola also aims to help collect and recycle the equivalent of every can or bottle they sell by 2030.
At the same time, Coca-Cola’s programs under its World Without Waste initiative empower communities in the Philippines through collaborations that enable positive change and support a debris-free environment.
“As a global beverage company, we are focused on our entire packaging lifecycle and we recognize our role and responsibility to help tackle the plastic packaging waste issue,” said Tony del Rosario, President, Coca-Cola Philippines and Vice President, East Franchise Operations of Coca-Cola ASEAN & South Pacific. “This takes collaboration, innovation and continued effort and we are making progress, with much more to do.”
All of Coca-Cola’s primary packaging in the Philippines—from returnable glass bottles to PET plastic bottles, and aluminum cans— are recyclable. Coca-Cola glass bottles still represent approximately 50% of the company’s total business in the country. These glass bottles are continuously collected, washed, and reused.
Coca-Cola Philippines has also been introducing brands whose bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic (excluding caps and labels). In 2018, the company launched a new packaging format for Viva! – the new bottles were the first in the Philippines to be made from 100% recycled plastic. In 2019, the company transitioned from its iconic green Sprite packaging to clear PET to make the bottles easier to recycle. At the same time, the company introduced 100% recycled plastic for its Sprite bottles in the Philippines.
In 2020, Coca-Cola Philippines also started to include a bold “Recycle Me” message on packaging labels across all its brands—inviting people to help collect and recycle their bottles after they enjoyed the drink.
In 2021, the company phased out unrecyclable sachets from its packaging portfolio in the Philippines, while paper straws were introduced for juice and dairy products.
The company has also overhauled its PET plastic packaging by lightweighting products to reduce the overall impact of its carbon footprint—resulting in the removal of approximately 10,000 metric tons of new or virgin plastic materials from its packaging in the Philippines. Consequently, Coca-Cola’s packaging for single-serve (500ml and 330ml) Wilkins and Viva! is now approximately 20-25% lighter, while its 500ml bottle for carbonated drinks in the Philippines is now approximately 23% lighter.
Coca-Cola continues to innovate toward its vision of a World Without Waste.
Collecting for a circular economy
Proper collection and recycling is crucial for a circular economy for packaging. With this, Coca-Cola Philippines has partnered with communities and has set up over 800 collection points all over the country where people can drop off their empty PET plastic bottles. These collection hubs can be viewed on the Coca-Cola Philippines website.
Plastic picking is also a key component of Coca-Cola’s collection drive. To this end, the company has partnered with the Philippine Business for Social Progress and Partners Plastic Flamingo (PLAF) to provide a cleaner environment and financially uplift a number of Philippine communities. PLAF, a French social enterprise that tackles marine plastic pollution by collecting and recycling ocean-bound plastic waste, works with Likha Initiative, a volunteer-led initiative advocating for community-based solutions in the Philippines. Both engaged with community waste pickers to collect plastic waste in the National Capital Region.
“Throughout our operations, there are various opportunities for us to minimize waste and accelerate the move to a circular economy,” said Gareth McGeown, President & CEO, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. “Through innovative design, intensive plastic waste collection efforts, and collaboration with partners, we are working towards our goal of collecting and recycling every can or bottle that we sell by 2030.”
Through Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, the company has partnered with PeacePond Famers Association for the Blastik Project operating in Negros Occidental. The project provides training to communities on the importance of recycling and upcycling, and aims to create positive change and strengthen solid waste management practices through workshops and technological support needed for collection and upcycling systems.
Coca-Cola Philippines, together with over 30 partner organizations, also mobilized 430 associates and volunteers to join the International Coastal Cleanup at Subic Bay last September 17, 2022. The activity was able to divert over 730 kilos of marine debris, helping deliver the company’s ongoing commitment to create partnerships that promote a debris-free environment and raise awareness on marine pollution and the importance of proper waste segregation and disposal. The company’s local bottling partner, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCBPI), also activated 20 of its sites to participate in the cleanup in other parts of the country.
Partnering for impact
Tackling the plastic waste issue requires cross-sector collaboration.
In a quest to give its bottles a second life, CCBPI has entered into a joint venture with Indorama Ventures, a global leader in recycling and green technologies, to establish PETValue Philippines, the biggest state-of-the-art, bottle-to-bottle PET recycling facility in the country, which started operating this 2022 in Cavite.
The 2.28-billion-peso multi-phased joint venture investment will significantly expand domestic recycling capabilities and accelerate the development of a circular economy for recyclable clear PET plastic bottles in the Philippines, by processing approximately 2 billion PET bottles per year. The facility’s operations will also generate around 200 direct jobs for Filipinos.
Coca-Cola also aims to empower MSMEs as it pursues its vision. In partnership with Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies and the Philippine Association of Stores and Carinderia Owners, the company formally started last July collection efforts under Tindahan Extra Mile Balik PET Bottle program. The program is a PET collection for recycling initiative that aims to establish sari-sari stores as collection points, bringing collection closer to consumers, while also providing additional income or items to sell from the exchange of recyclable plastics.
CCBPI has also been working with different local government units to help improve collection rates in their respective cities and municipalities. Its project, Tapon to Ipon: Basta Klaro, Panalo!, encourages people in the communities to practice proper waste segregation and bring their empty clear PET plastic bottles to the participating collection hubs..
The Foundation supports projects with World Wildlife Fund, SPECTRUM- Sarangani, Philippine Business for Social Progress, and the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, and Pure Oceans, which empower workers in the solid waste management sector. The Pure Oceans: Pure Islands project, for instance, has recovered over 30,000 kilos of marine waste and provided its volunteers with opportunities to earn an individual income of Php 3,000 per month, while a community development program with PBSP in Sitio Pintor, Rizal, has collected 500 kilos of plastic and provided personal protective equipment for 100 families relying on waste picking.
To fight against marine plastic waste, Coca-Cola Philippines has partnered with Plastic Bank®, a social enterprise that is helping the world tackle ocean plastic while improving the lives of collector communities. Through this partnership, Plastic Bank collectors in General Trias, Cavite were able to gather around five million plastic bottles in 2021. These community collectors received a premium for the materials they collected, providing a source of income to help them cover basic family necessities such as groceries and cooking fuel.
“With these ongoing collaborations with partners across the country, we are optimistic that we shall soon see the impact of our work in communities,” said Cecile Alcantara, President, Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Inc. “We have much to do together and we are looking forward to the journey ahead.”
As it walks on this path, Coca-Cola Philippines remains committed to creating a greater positive impact through its vision and goals.
On October 14, 2022, Coca-Cola Philippines will share the four-year progress it has made towards its World Without Waste goals at an event for stakeholders and the media. The event will put a spotlight on the partnerships made during the four-year World Without Waste journey and provide an update on PETValue Philippines.
To learn more about Coca-Cola’s World Without Waste initiative, stay tuned for announcements in the coming days or visit coca-cola.com.ph/news/our-world-without-waste-progress.