People still want plastic bottles, Coca-Cola declare

Coca-Cola won’t ditch single-use plastic bottles as a result of customers still want them, the agency’s head of sustainability has advised the BBC.

Clients like them as a result of they reseal and are light-weight, stated Bea Perez. The agency, which is likely one of the greatest producers of plastic waste, has pledged to recycle as many plastic bottles because it makes use of by 2030. However environmental campaigners argue many Coke bottles would still go uncollected and find yourself in landfill.

• Within the warfare on plastic is Coca-Cola good friend or foe?

The drinks large produces about three million tonnes of plastic packaging a 12 months – equal to 200,000 bottles a minute. In 2019, it was discovered to be essentially the most polluting model in a world audit of plastic waste by the charity Break Free from Plastic. However talking on the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, Ms Perez stated the agency recognised it now needed to be “part of the solution”.

‘Accommodate customers’

Coke has pledged to make use of at the very least 50% recycled materials in its packaging by 2030. It is usually partnering with NGOs all over the world to assist enhance assortment.

Nevertheless, Ms Perez stated the agency couldn’t ditch plastic outright, as some campaigners needed, saying this might alienate clients and hit gross sales.

She additionally stated utilizing solely aluminium and glass packaging may push up the agency’s carbon footprint. “Business won’t be in business if we don’t accommodate consumers,” she stated. “So as we change our bottling infrastructure, move into recycling and innovate, we also have to show the consumer what the opportunities are.

They will change with us.” Ms Perez stated she revered the idealism of youth activists, resembling 19-year-old campaigner Melati Wijsen, who together with her sister Isabel, satisfied the island of Bali to ban single-use plastic baggage, straws and styrofoam final 12 months. Such plastics have been clogging up the seas round Bali, harming marine life.

Ms Perez additionally stated she agreed with requires Coca Cola to achieve its environmental objectives before 2030 – though she wouldn’t say whether or not she would step down if the plans failed. “We have to reach this goal and we will – there’s no question.”