Coca-Cola is pledging to keep more of its cans and bottles out of landfills.
The company said Friday that it will make a concerted effort to recycle and use more environmentally friendly packaging over the next 12 years.
Coke is dubbing it the “World Without Waste” initiative.
In a statement outlining its plan, Coke said by the year 2030, it will collect and recycle one bottle or can for every bottle or can it sells.
The company “is investing its marketing dollars and skills behind this 100% collection goal to help people understand what, how and where to recycle,” according to a press release. “We will support collection of packaging across the industry, including bottles and cans from other companies.”
And, also by 2030, Coke says it’ll make bottles with an average of 50% recycled content with the goal of eventually using only recyclable materials.
Coke says it’s working to develop packaging that uses “plant-based” ingredients or that use less plastic.
“Bottles and cans shouldn’t harm our planet, and a litter-free world is possible,” Coke CEO James Quincey said in a statement. “Consumers around the world care about our planet, and they want and expect companies to take action.”
A 2012 report from the World Bank estimated that about 1.4 billion tons of solid waste was being generated each year, and it predicted that number would hit 2.2 billion by 2025.
The group said solid waste had “emerged as a major concern as post-consumer waste is estimated to account for almost 5%” of greenhouse gas emissions, which cause climate change. The World Bank urged countries to take action, recommending recycling as one of several ways the problem can be mitigated.
