Coca-Cola turns label waste into 90 million Smartwater bottles

Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) has partnered with Avery Dennison, Viridor and PET UK to turn label waste into products, including the production of 90 million nutrient-fortified Smartwater bottles.

The CCEP initiative was launched last year to recycle more waste and is expected to reduce the carbon footprint of its Morpeth factory by approximately 180-200 tonnes CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) this year.

'Take-make-dispose' model

Joe Franses, director of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, CCEP said thanks to the joint collaboration bottle liners were recycled, instead of being sent for incineration or disposal, expected to generate an annual saving of around £25,000.

"Our economy needs to evolve from the current 'take-make-dispose' model and we need a more circular, longer term way of thinking," he said.

"This example shows how we can turn the crisis of resources into a business opportunity through close collaboration across the value chain.

"Businesses which can be truly innovative with the products and services they provide, optimising the resources they use and encouraging consumers to do the same, have the potential to transform our economy."

The partnership saw 70 tonnes of PET liner waste were recycled last year.

Franses added the collaboration drives the circular economy and helps to address the resource challenges it faces.

Siliconized PET liner

Avery Dennison approached CCEP with the concept to recycle the siliconized PET liner.

Xander van der Vlies, sustainability director, Avery Dennison, said since the launch in 2014, it signed numerous wine, spirits, beer and beverage brands, interested in saving costs and reducing the environmental impact of their bottling operations in the UK and Ireland.

"The enthusiasm and close cooperation between the four companies across the value chain were key to the fast and successful implementation of the service," he added.

"Avery Dennison set the ambitious sustainability goal for 2025 of eliminating 70% of liner waste from the industry value chain."

PET UK, located in Dumfries, Scotland, shreds and extrudes PET liners into a granulate which undergoes treatment before being used for the production of PET thermoformable sheets.

Instead of PET liners ending up in a general waste disposal bin, they now become a raw material which can be used in the production of recycled PET resin (rPET).

This becomes feedstock for the production of items such as PET staple fiber, strapping or thermoformable sheets, which are used for the production of trays.