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COCA-COLA PHILIPPINES LAUNCHES NEW 100% rPET BOTTLES

Major step to support a circular economy for plastic packaging in the Philippines through the new “May Ikabobote Pa” sustainable packaging platform

MANILA, Philippines, 7 September 2023 –  Coca‑Cola Philippines is taking another meaningful step towards building a circular economy for plastic packaging in the Philippines by introducing more bottles made from 100% recycled PET plastic (rPET), excluding caps and labels. For the first time ever, 100% rPET packaging is now available for Coca‑Cola Original in 190ml and 390ml and Wilkins Pure in 500ml. In addition, the company continues to use 100% rPET packaging for its Sprite 500ml bottles, having introduced this packaging innovation in 2019.

The company currently offers at least one brand made from 100% recycled PET in more than 40 countries around the world including ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Coca‑Cola’s rPET bottles maintain high-quality standards that consumers expect from the company and comply with local regulations as well as The Coca‑Cola Company’s strict global standards for food-grade rPET packaging.

In the Philippines, the company has also established over 2,000 recycling drop-off points in sari-sari stores and carinderias nationwide, making it more convenient for consumers to return their empty bottles. The initiative meets several objectives: it encourages consumers to participate in recycling efforts, helps small storeowners earn higher incomes and grow their business, and prevents plastic containers ending up where they are not supposed to be. In just a year of partnership with the micro-retail sector, Coca‑Cola Philippines has been able to collect over 33 million bottles for recycling, many of which were transformed into new Coca‑Cola bottles.

Additionally, the company's collaboration with Plastic Bank Philippines has led to the activation of 33 recyclable waste collection branches in Cavite and Laguna. Since its launch in 2021, this partnership has collected over 8.7 million plastic bottles while also enhancing the livelihood of informal waste sector workers.

“At Coca‑Cola we recognize that the plastic waste problem in the Philippines is both urgent and complex. That’s why we are taking a collaborative approach to help solve this issue and build a circular economy for plastic PET in the country. We are committed to rolling out innovative new packaging designs, expand  the reach and impact of our collection and recycling programs, and forge strategic partnerships with a range of government agencies, industry partners, and local organizations,” Coca‑Cola Philippines President Tony del Rosario said.

“We will also use our the power of our brands to engage consumers in collection and recycling initiatives and build awareness and understanding that used plastic bottles can be recycled and end up having many lives,” he added.

Coca‑Cola Philippines is working to increase further the amount of recycled content used in its plastic packaging by building a sustainable pipeline of high-quality recycled material. Its bottling partner, Coca‑Cola Beverages Philippines, established PETValue Philippines through a joint venture with Indorama Ventures, a global leader in green technology and packaging solutions. This pioneering bottle-to-bottle recycling facility started operations in October last year and is expected to recycle two billion pieces of collected post-consumer PET plastic bottles per year.

These initiatives are aligned with The Coca‑Cola Company’s ambitious sustainable packaging strategy, where it aims to make 100% of its packaging recyclable globally by 2025, use at least 50% recycled plastic in its packaging by 2030, help collect the equivalent of every can and bottle it sells by 2030, and bring people together to support a healthy, debris-free environment.

MAY IKABOBOTE PA: A NEW SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING PLATFORM

On top of the announcement of the new 100% rPET Coca‑Cola Original and Wilkins Pure rPET bottles, the company has launched “May Ikabobote Pa”, its new sustainable packaging platform that engages and educates consumers about ongoing actions that people can take to help address the plastic waste problem.

The May Ikabobote Pa platform is intended to inspire action from consumers and like-minded organizations:

  • New rPET labels: Coca‑Cola and Wilkins Pure bottles made from 100% food-grade rPET packaging, excluding caps and labels, now have a call to action “Recycle Me Again” message on their labels. A QR code that will lead to information about the company’s recycling program in the Philippines is also included on each label.
  • Enhanced consumer recycling experiences: Engaging activities on recycling will be featured at Coca‑Cola’s on-ground consumer events.
  • Digital-led communications for consumers: Coca‑Cola Philippines will partner with groups and community leaders to co-create educational content for a wider audience and advocate for sustainable practices.
  • Partnership with 7-Eleven and Shell: The company is partnering with 7-Eleven stores and Shell stations to create programs that make recycling more convenient and rewarding for consumers.

These activities are meant to bring people together and remind consumers about the importance of recycling their empty plastic bottles because #MayIkabobotePa (Bottles Can Have Many Lives).

TAPON TO REBORN, COCA-COLA PH EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM

In line with the global commitment of Coca‑Cola to sustainability, Coca‑Cola Philippines launched its system-wide employee engagement program, “Tapon to Reborn”, to encourage and enable employees nationwide to become active participants in helping address the plastic waste problem in the country.

“Tapon to Reborn” encourages employees to collect, segregate, and bring their empty PET bottles, cans, and beverage cartons to the office for recycling. From there the bottles are sent to partner recycling facilities, including the CCBPI supported PETValue PET bottle recycling plant, where they can become new bottles.

The initiative aims to collect and sell 500 kilograms of PET bottles and cans. The proceeds of the collection will be used to support reforestation efforts in the Lagadlarin Mangrove Forest and Sierra Madre Forest.

For more information on the sustainability initiatives of Coca‑Cola Philippines, follow the company’s social media channel: @CocaColaPhilippines on Facebook and @cocacolaph on Twitter and Instagram — or visit www.coca-cola.com.ph.