Stepping up their game and at being responsible with its ecological impact on the planet, Coca-Cola has unveiled its paper bottle prototype and will soon start trials in Hungary. Coca-Cola is exploring innovative packaging solutions which can help contribute to a sustainable and circular economy for all its packaging materials. The company is committed to collect a bottle or can for every one that it sells by 2030, with 100% recyclability and zero waste.
The company has really set ambitious goals related to its packaging as part of its strategy and Vision for World Without Waste.
Over 2,000 consumers will soon receive Coca‑Cola’s first-ever paper bottle prototype, which is set to be tested in the market for the first time this summer. Coca‑Cola will begin with its plant-based drink of 250ml called AdeZ which will be offered to consumers by Kifli.hu, Hungary’s fastest growing online grocery retailer.
In 2020, Coca‑Cola revealed its paper bottle prototype in Brussels. The project will now move into its critical consumer testing phase, in order to measure how the packaging performs as well as how people will respond to the new format.
Our vision is to create a paper bottle than can be recycled like any other type of paper, and this prototype is the first step on the way to achieving this
Stijn Franssen, R&D packaging innovation manager, Coca-Cola EMEA
The trial of the paper bottle prototype is scheduled to take place in Hungary in the second quarter of 2021 with 2,000 bottles. This new paper bottle prototype is being developed as part of a partnership between scientists at Coca‑Cola’s Brussels Research and Development laboratories and The Paper Bottle Company (Paboco) which is a Danish startup supported by ALPLA and BillerudKorsnäs, in cooperation with Carlsberg, L’Oréal, and The Absolut Company.
Paboco developed this technology and it is designed to create 100% recyclable bottles that are made of sustainably sourced wood with a bio-based material barrier suitable for liquid goods such as carbonated and still drinks, beauty products, and more. The current prototype has a paper shell with a recyclable plastic lining and cap. The ultimate goal and objective of the project are to develop a bottle without the plastic liner that can be recycled as paper and the company is excited about the potential for the technology and the opportunity to learn from this trial.
One step closer to commercial reality
“The trial we are announcing today is a milestone for us in our quest to develop a paper bottle,” said Daniela Zahariea, Director of Technical Supply Chain & Innovation for Coca‑Cola Europe.
Last year, we embarked on an innovative collaboration with #Paboco in developing a #recyclable paper bottle. Joining Carlsberg, L’Oréal and Coca-Cola, we are excited to see how Teknos coatings can make a difference to future generations: https://t.co/PXpoLQlVB9#sustainability pic.twitter.com/jrHK6v66NK
— Teknos GBI (@TeknosGBI) February 27, 2020
“People expect Coca‑Cola to develop and bring new innovative and sustainable types of packaging. That is why Coca-Cola has partnered with experts like Paboco, who are experimenting openly and conducting this first-in-market trial. It’s part of delivering on our World Without Waste goals,” she said.
“We will continue to invest in innovating and exploring new packaging technologies in cooperation with our partners at Paboco. This launch shows that we’re making good progress despite the journey ahead of us. It also shows Coca‑Cola’s determination to drive this sort of packaging innovation forwards by exploring and working together,” said Stijn Franssen, R&D packaging innovation manager, Coca-Cola EMEA.
