Coca-Cola finds new alternative to plastic shrink wrap: launching cardboard and paper version

14-Sep-2023 - Last updated on 14-Sep-2023 at 08:28 GMT

The secondary packaging will help Coca-Cola cut 200 tonnes of plastic shrink wrap. Pic: Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola has launched new secondary packaging for 1.5 liter multipacks of Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite in Austria: which will save plastic and significantly reduce production energy costs, says the company.

LitePac Top is a new type of cardboard which forms a structure to keep the necks of each bottle in place; while a paper wrap keeps the body of the bottles together.

The 100% recyclable cardboard and paper wrap is easy to carry and recycle and the pilot project in Austria will initially save about 200 tonnes of plastic in Austria each year, says Coca-Cola.

The packaging is the result of a partnership between Coca-Cola HBC, Krones, DS Smith and Mondi. Over the last three years, the companies have been developing and refining the new carrier and the production equipment to produce it.

Before launch, the packaging was tested for quality, consumer appeal and to check it was easy to carry drinks home. It can support the weight of a six pack of 1.5 litre bottles, or around 9 kg: and the pilot project ‘could signal the beginning of the end for shrink wrap packing of large and heavy multipack bottles’.

Coca-Cola says LitePac Top is an important milestone for the company, which aims to be net zero by 2040.