In a significant environmental initiative, Coca-Cola Great Britain has embarked on a pioneering trial, removing labels from its popular Sprite and Sprite Zero bottles. The trial, aimed at simplifying the recycling process and reducing packaging waste, is underway at select Tesco Express Stores across Brighton and Hove, Manchester, London, and Bristol, including specific stores on Brighton’s Jubilee Street and Hove’s Western Road.
The label-less design of the 500ml bottles features an embossed logo on the front, with laser-engraved product and nutritional information on the back. This innovative approach eliminates the traditional plastic labels, thereby reducing the need to separate them during recycling and cutting down on overall packaging material.
Dusan Stojankic, VP of Franchise Operations at Coca-Cola Great Britain, emphasised the company’s commitment to sustainable practices: “We want to help create a future where plastic drink packaging will always have more than one life. This trial is just one of several ways we are exploring to make recycling easier, minimising waste, and reducing the impact of our packaging on the environment.”
Javier Meza, VP of Marketing at Coca-Cola Europe, noted the significance of the trial in the beverage industry, stating, “It’s the first time these two technologies have been used in a pilot globally, where a Coca-Cola product will appear in a label-less, single-unit bottle sold in-store.”
Despite the removal of traditional labels, the bottles will retain their distinctive green and transparent caps for Sprite and Sprite Zero respectively, ensuring easy identification for consumers. The trial will run until March, offering customers in the selected locations a chance to experience this eco-friendly packaging first-hand.
This initiative has garnered positive responses from environmental organisations. Allison Ogden-Newton, Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy, praised the trial, noting, “It’s clear that, as a society, we need to reduce, reuse and recycle more, and waste less. We welcome this exciting and innovative trial.”
Coca-Cola’s label-less bottle trial represents a step forward in the industry’s efforts to address environmental concerns. By reducing packaging and simplifying recycling processes, this initiative could pave the way for more sustainable practices in the beverage industry and beyond.
