Coca-Cola announces shift from green-colored Sprite bottle to clear plastic - Capital Business
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The lemon-lime flavored Sprite will now be packaged in a clear PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottle, marking a historic shift from the green-colored plastic bottle which has been its identity since 1960 when it was first launched.

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Coca-Cola announces shift from green-colored Sprite bottle to clear plastic

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 28 – Coca-Cola in Kenya has unveiled a new look of its leading soft drink: Sprite.

The lemon-lime flavored Sprite will now be packaged in a clear PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottle, marking a historic shift from the green-colored plastic bottle which has been its identity since 1960 when it was first launched.

This shift means more Sprite bottles can be collected, recycled and reused to make new items, in line with Coca-Cola’s World Without Waste vision, which targets to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle or can it sells by 2030, as well as use 50 per cen recycled content in all its packaging.

“Our people in Kenya can now enjoy the refreshing taste of their favourite sparkling lemon-lime drink knowing their bottle can be easily recycled and made into new items. This is a plus in our joint effortsto grow our business while contributing towards more sustainable environmental practices,” said Xavi Selga, Managing Director, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) – Kenya during the launch in Nairobi on Monday.

Clear PET can be recycled and re-used to make a wider range of new products, such as pillow and duvet inners, as well as new bottles, making it more valuable than green PET, which has limited uses.

Kenya becomes the fourth African market where Coca-Cola has introduced the Sprite clear PET, after South Africa, Nigeria and Ethiopia.

“The shift from the green bottle to clear PET is a significantstep in driving our sustainability agenda which is a key element of our business. We know that our vision for a World Without Waste is ambitious and can be challenging but together with our partners, we are committed to the cause.

This move also allows us to work with partners in the recycling industry, and with waste collectors and aggregators to achieve more value for our recyclable plastics,” said Debra Mallowah, Vice President, Coca-Cola East and Central Africa Franchise.

“The World Without Waste” strategy represents Coca-Cola’s commitment to doing business sustainably, and this includes addressing the packaging waste challenge. Additionally, clear PET plastic contributes to economic empowerment as it will lead to enhanced income for waste reclaimers in Kenya who depend on collecting and selling packaging waste for a living,” added Mallowah.

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With presence in over 200 countries, including Kenya, Coca-Cola Sprite’s new transparent look features a clear see-through bottle, refreshed icon of the brand’s bold Sprite ‘spark’ with a distinct label and bright green cover.

“Our consumers are at the heart of everything that we do and we would like to assure them that the new look Sprite is bolder and better with an improved recipe that will deliver the most refreshing lemon lime taste,” said Isabelle Kariuki-Rostom, the Franchise Marketing Director,Coca-Cola East and Central Africa Franchise.

The new look Sprite will be available in all retail outlets and Coca-Cola distributors across the country startingJune this yearas the company clears out the green packaging from the shelves and the trade to ensure complete transition into the clear bottles.

Coca-Cola is one of the members of PETCO Kenya (PET Recycling Company Ltd), an industry-led extended producer responsibility PET recycling scheme, comprised of 16 industry players from different sectors.

PETCO seeks to coordinate initiatives to collect, sort and recycle plastic bottles, with broader focus on sustainable management of PET material after their initial use. This is done in partnership with recyclers who create new products out of disposed PET material.

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