“Removing paint from bottles improves the quality of recycled material,” Julian Ochoa, CEO of R3CYCLE, a plastics group helping Coca-Cola improve recycling, said in a statement. “When recycled, Sprite’s clear PET bottles can be recycled into bottles, furthering the circular economy for plastic.”
Customers will also notice the updated logo and packaging design on the Sprite bottles, which are meant to provide a more “consistent look and sound around the world,” the company said. The famous green tint will continue to be used on Sprite labels.
Other drinks that use green bottles from the Coke range, including Fresca, Seagram’s and Mello Yello, will also be replaced with clear containers in the coming months.
The beverage giant is often criticized for its contribution to environmentally harmful plastic waste. In 2020, the company was named #1 in the world. 1 plastic pollutant created by environmental firm Break Free From Plastic. Its logos and branding have been found on 13,834 pieces of discarded plastic in 51 countries, often in public places like parks and beaches.
