Coca-Cola has quietly rolled out a new eco-friendly packaging that could reshape how we carry our favorite drinks. Featuring recyclable paper-and-cardboard handles and wraps, the change is expected to cut hundreds of tons of plastic each year. But while the update is a win for convenience and the environment, critics question whether it’s enough to tackle the company’s massive plastic footprint.
Coca-Cola unveils a subtle yet impactful packaging shift
Coca-Cola has quietly introduced a significant change to its packaging, though the new design hasn’t reached the United States yet.
Developed in collaboration with Coca-Cola HBC Austria, DS Smith, and Krones, the packaging includes a recyclable corrugated paper-and-cardboard handle designed for six-packs of 1.5-liter bottles. According to Packaging Europe, the new packaging also comes with a paper wrap around the bottles and a soft grip on the handle to make carrying them easier for consumers.
By replacing traditional plastic wraps and handles with these paper and cardboard alternatives, Coca-Cola HBC expects to save around 220 tons of plastic annually.
“We are proud to partner on this innovative packaging solution, driving out unnecessary waste and single-use plastic. The DS Smith Lift Up concept was designed using DS Smith’s Circular Design Metrics approach, so it uses the least amount of material possible, reduces impact on the environment, and looks fantastic in stores and supermarkets,” DS Smith President Stefano Rossi shared in a press release.
So far, neither DS Smith nor Coca-Cola has confirmed when—or if—this new packaging will be introduced in the U.S.
Why conservation groups remain skeptical of Coca-Cola’s environmental efforts
For six years running, Coca-Cola has held the dubious distinction of being the world’s top plastic polluter. The company produces more than 100 billion single-use plastic bottles each year, many of which end up in landfills and oceans.
A recent report from the nonprofit organization Oceana warns that by 2030, Coca-Cola’s products could add roughly 602 million kilograms (about 1.32 billion pounds) of plastic waste to the world’s oceans and waterways annually.
Much of the criticism stems from Coca-Cola’s 2024 shift in conservation targets. Under the revised plan, the company pledged to boost “recycled plastic use to 30% to 35% globally” and to “help ensure the collection of 70% to 75% of the equivalent number of bottles and cans introduced into the market annually.”
“Coca-Cola’s decision to double down on single-use plastic – by killing its goals to reduce virgin plastic and to increase reusable packaging – is short-sighted, irresponsible, and worthy of widespread condemnation by its customers, its employees, its investors, and governments worried about the impact of plastics on our oceans and health,” said Oceana Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Matt Littlejohn in a press release.
Greenpeace Africa Project Lead Hellen Kahaso Dena also questioned the company’s commitment to sustainability.
“If Coca-Cola is really serious about solving the plastic and climate crisis, it needs to stop its greenwashing, cap its plastic production, and invest in refill and reuse. Ending Coca-Cola’s addiction to single-use plastic is an important step in moving away from fossil fuels, protecting communities in Africa, and combating the climate crisis,” she shared on the Greenpeace website.
Sources: Packaging Europe, DS Smith, TheStreet.