To date, CCBA has rolled out Sprite Clear plastic bottles in South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Zambia and Tanzania, followed by a switch from light blue to clear PET for Ambo mineral water in Ethiopia, and now Dasani water in Kenya.
Clear PET bottles are easier to recycle than coloured PET bottles which means more plastic bottles will be recycled to make new ones. This is part of Coca-Cola’s World Without Waste vision, which aims to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle or can it sells by 2030.
The clear PET plastic also contributes to economic empowerment as it will have more value for waste recyclers who depend on collecting and selling plastic packaging waste for their livelihood.
“Coca-Cola’s World Without Waste initiative represents Coca-Cola’s commitment to doing business sustainably, which includes addressing the packaging waste challenge,” said Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability Director, John Mwendwa.
“The clear PET can be made into new bottles as well as a wide range of new products, such as pillow and duvet inners, making it more valuable than coloured PET, which has limited uses.
“It is a big step forward in creating a circular economy for plastic waste by giving it value, which in turn incentivises people to collect and recycle which generates income,” Mwendwa said.
As part of its support for the circular economy, CCBA has played a leading role in establishing Producer Responsibility Organisations (PRO) in Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Ethiopia.
