Coke, Shell step up waste recycling

The local bottling arm of beverage giant Coca-Cola and Shell Pilipinas Corp. are expanding a waste recycling initiative by collecting used polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles from consumers.

“We are launching around 40 Shell Select stores as collection points for phase 1 and we are targeting to launch more this year as part of our long-term partnership with Shell Pilipinas Corporation,” Coca-Cola Beverages, Philippines Inc. (CCBPI) says in a statement sent to the Inquirer.

Coca Cola aims to make 100 percent of its packaging recyclable globally by 2025 and to use at least 50-percent recycled material in its packaging by 2030.

By 2030, it aims to have at least 25 percent of its global beverage volume sold in refillable or returnable containers (glass or PET plastic bottles) or fountain dispensers with reusable packaging.

In 2021, CCBPI also launched its Tapon to Ipon: Basta Klaro, Panalo program, which taps traditional trade outlets or sari-sari stores as collection hubs. As an incentive, consumers get a Coca-cola product for every 1 kilo of clear PET plastic bottles. To date, CCBPI has enlisted almost 700 sari-sari stores.

This also falls in line with Shell’s aim to develop a more efficient waste management system, particularly for the disposal of clear plastic bottles sold at Shell Select stores.

Back in October of 2022, CCBPI’s first-ever plastic bottle recycling facility in the country began operating in full capacity.

The recycling plant, dubbed as PETValue, in General Trias, Cavite is able to process around 2 billion pieces of used clear PET plastic bottles per year.