Coca-Cola has revealed it is working to create a bottle made 100% from paper. It claims it’s an innovative packaging technology that may help us achieve a World Without Waste.

Following the news that it was one of the worlds worst plastic polluters, Coco-Cola has released a news statement and accompanying video for its new paper based bottle. Developed with its partner, Paboco, and the three other companies in the Paboco Pioneer Community

Coca-Colas goal is to create a ‘World Without Waste’. A world where every piece of packaging produced and sold is also collected and recycled. It aims to collect and recycle a bottle or can for every one it sells by 2030. It also aims to substantially reduce its use of virgin packaging materials and use 100% recyclable packaging materials.

World Without Waste

According to the statement on the website it will take continuous investment in innovation and exploration of different technologies. Crucially it also states it needs partnerships and collaborations to get to a ‘World Without Waste’.

Further statements state: “Our vision is to create a paper bottle than can be recycled like any other type of paper, and this prototype is the first step on the way to achieving this. A paper bottle opens up a whole new world of packaging possibilities, and we are convinced that paper packaging has a role to play in the future,” says Stijn Franssen, EMEA R&D Packaging Innovation Manager at Coca-Cola.

“This first-generation paper bottle prototype still consists of a paper shell with a plastic closure and a plastic liner inside. Although it is made from 100% recycled plastic that can be recycled again. But our vision is to create a paper bottle that can be recycled like any paper. The next step is to find a solution to create a bottle without the plastic liner,” Stijn says.

Thorough testing going on

Like all packaging, a paper bottle must adhere to the same high safety and quality standards that currently apply. Stijn and this team are putting the bottle through comprehensive testing in the lab to see how it performs. Tests include in the refrigerator, strength and how well it protects the drinks inside.