Coca-Cola Ireland has been taking action to make packaging waste a problem of the past and accelerate the shift to a circular economy as it looks to build a more sustainable future for our planet.
In recent years the company and its bottling partner in Ireland have made significant investments in packaging innovation, including the introduction of a sustainably sourced cardboard fastener known as a KeelClip to replace shrink wrap on many of its multipack products.
Advancing the circular economy has also been a central focus of the team at Coca-Cola Ireland, together with their local bottling partner, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland.
From the design of bottles and cans to how they are collected and recycled and repurposed, Coca-Cola is innovating in packaging across the entire lifecycle of its products and saving thousands of tons of virgin plastic in the process. By 2030, the company is committed globally to collecting and recycling the equivalent of every bottle or can it sells.
“Creating a circular economy for packaging cannot be achieved by one company alone,” says Agnese Filippi, country manager of Coca-Cola Ireland. “We have a responsibility to work in partnership with consumers, industry, local authorities and national policymakers to create a true World Without Waste.”
To realise this goal, in October 2020 the Coca-Cola Foundation partnered with Dublin City Council and an NGO, Hubbub, to launch Dublin #CircleCity, a new on-street recycling programme aimed at encouraging the public to recycle plastic bottles and aluminium cans in the city centre.
Supported and delivered on-the-ground by local partners Voice Ireland, Dublin #CircleCity initially introduced 25 bright yellow recycling bins across Grafton Street and Henry Street. Following the success of the initial stage, Dublin City Council, Hubbub and the Coca-Cola Foundation invested further in the campaign.
The Dublin #CircleCity campaign is an important step towards achieving a more sustainable future while also illustrating the power of what can be achieved when we work together
Last year the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alison Gilliland, and Minister for State for the Circular Economy Ossian Smyth joined Coca-Cola to announce the extension of the campaign. This resulted in the doubling in the number of recycling bins to 50 and the campaign extended to other streets, including St Andrew’s Street. Alongside the on-street bins, the campaign trialled the use of 15 Big Belly bins in the docklands area.
“In closing the loop for plastic bottles and cans,” says Filippi, “the Dublin #CircleCity campaign is an important step towards achieving a more sustainable future while also illustrating the power of what can be achieved when we work together.
“From companies increasing the usage of recycled plastic in bottles, to the consumers actively recycling those bottles and local authorities such as Dublin City Council changing their work practices to facilitate greater recycling, it’s clear we all have a role to play in achieving a circular economy.”
The results from the campaign to date reveal the positive impact of Dublin #CircleCity in fostering a culture of on-the-go recycling.
As of April 2022, 90 per cent of plastic bottles and cans in the area covered by Dublin #CircleCity now ends up in recycling. That has ensured that 2.2 tonnes of plastic have been recycled and repurposed, helping to close the loop in a circular economy for plastic bottles and cans.
Moreover, Dublin City Council can now recycle an additional 100,000 plastic bottles and cans a year. That’s 100,000 bottles and cans that won’t go to landfill, helping Ireland meet its target of recycling 70 per cent of plastic packaging by 2030, as set out in the Government’s Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy.
Looking to the future, Filippi sees an opportunity for Coca-Cola and other companies to partner up with environmental organisations to advance the circular economy. She hopes the project will inspire others to pursue initiatives to push forward the boundaries of what is possible with consumer involvement.
“As we look to support Ireland on a journey to net-zero, Coca-Cola is keen to build on this partnership experience to help increase collection rates and ensure that we can meet our target of collecting and recycling a bottle or can for everyone one we sell by the end of the decade.
“That’s why as a system we continue to work with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications through the Irish Beverage Council to champion and support the introduction of a cohesive, well-designed deposit return scheme, which can incentivise consumers to return their empty beverage containers for recycling or reuse.”
Reflecting on the success of the Dublin #CircleCity partnership, Filippi highlights the impact of the initiative and what it means for Ireland’s circular economy journey.
“At Coca-Cola, we want to play our part in improving collection systems across the island of Ireland. Through the Dublin #CircleCity initiative, we have made the first step in achieving this goal, all while helping our local communities and local partners to create better recycling practices.
“In taking small steps such as this, we can accelerate the journey to a World Without Waste.”
Learn more about the Dublin #CircleCity campaign at www.circlecity.ie