Coca-Cola bottler launches label recycling program

A new initiative from Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) will recycle some 70 metric tons of waste each year from the production of Glacéau Smartwater bottle labels.

The new waste-saving initiative at Coca-Cola's Morpeth, United Kingdom, site with waste management company Viridor, labelling and packaging solutions company Avery Dennison, and plastic processor PET UK.

During the production process, self-adhesive labels are carried on a transparent PET liner before being applied to the Smartwater bottles. The liner then previously went into the waste stream.

Now, rather than becoming waste, these liners can now be retained and used to make new products including PET staple fiber, strapping or thermoformable sheets, which can then be used to make trays.

The initiative is expected to reduce the carbon footprint of CCEP’s Morpeth factory by approximately 80-100 tonnes of CO2 per year, which equates to approximately 15 homes’ electricity use over a year.

CCEP’s Morpeth factory is the sole site in the U.K. to produce Glacéau Smartwater, which first launched in 2014. Last month, the factory announced a £14 million ($17.7 million) investment to support the Smartwater brand, with a new high-speed fully automated bottling line, more than doubling production capability to 56,000 bottles per hour compared to the previous line’s capability of 18,200 bottles per hour. This year, the site expects to produce around 90 million bottles.

 Jane Buckley, operations director of CCEP, Morpeth, said: “With the recent site investment in Morpeth considerably increasing production capabilities, it is more important than ever for CCEP to reflect on its waste management as a business.

“This initiative will be an effective step in recycling more of our waste, and working towards our commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of the drink in the consumer’s hand.

“We are very excited to be working with some of the biggest organizations in the packaging and recycling spheres who share our commitment to support the circular economy.”