Coca-Cola India is launching Kinley bottles made entirely from 100 percent recycled PET plastic material (rPET). This initiative aligns with the company’s commitment to creating a “World Without Waste” and transitioning towards a circular economy. The launch event took place on June 15, 2023, in Andhra Pradesh, making Coca-Cola India the first company in India to employ such bottles for food and beverage packaging.
Coca-Cola India aims to incorporate at least 50 percent recycled content in its packaging by 2030. The company has already made significant progress in reducing the use of virgin plastic across its global value chain, with 90 percent of its packaging being recyclable, and 15 percent of the PET used being recycled (rPET) worldwide.
rPET bottles are made from food-grade recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET). These bottles undergo approved recycling processes that meet the standards of the US FDA and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for food-grade recycled materials. By utilizing rPET bottles, Coca-Cola India conserves natural resources and reduces the amount of plastic waste entering the environment.
The newly introduced rPET packaging is available for Coca-Cola’s packaged drinking water brand, Kinley, in 1-liter bottles. The bottles feature a distinctive label proclaiming their composition as “100 percent made from recycled food-grade plastic.” This represents a significant milestone for Coca-Cola in India as it strives to achieve its circular economy goals. The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has conducted a comprehensive review of food safety and approved the usage of recycled PET in food packaging, as long as all guidelines are followed.
Enrique Ackermann, Vice President of Technical and Innovation at Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, emphasizing the company’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint and contributing to a circular economy. S B P P Rammohan, Managing Director of Sri Sarvaraya Sugars Limited, the Franchise Bottling Partner of Coca-Cola in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, commended the company’s sustainable approach. Utsav Dixit, Head of Sustainability at ALPLA India, the PET Preform Supply Partner of Coca-Cola, highlighted the significance of the launch in supporting sustainability goals.
Overall, Coca-Cola India’s introduction of Kinley bottles made from 100 percent rPET represents a significant step towards achieving its sustainability goals and contributing to a circular economy by reducing waste and promoting the use of recycled materials in packaging.