Coca-Cola debuts Hong Kong’s first bottles made from locally recycled plastic

HONG KONG — Swire Coca-Cola, the bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company, has achieved a major sustainability milestone by producing Hong Kong’s first beverage bottles made from locally sourced recycled plastic (rPET).

The initiative, unveiled this month, marks a key step in closing the loop on plastic waste within the city.

The recycled material is supplied by New Life Plastics, Hong Kong’s first food-grade ready plastic bottle recycling facility, which can process up to two million bottles per day.

Currently, the plant handles around 800,000 bottles daily, revealing significant room for improvement in local recycling participation.

Karlijn in ’t Veld, Vice President of Franchise Operations for Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, and Mongolia at The Coca-Cola Company, said, “Every locally produced 500ml Coca-Cola beverage or bonaqua water bottle you enjoy now has a good chance of being made from locally recycled plastic.

“This isn’t just about refreshing the world—it’s about making a tangible difference for a better Hong Kong.”

The move aligns with Coca-Cola’s “World Without Waste” vision, which aims to make all packaging 100% recyclable by 2025 and use at least 50% recycled material by 2030.

The company hopes to use its brand visibility to encourage consumer participation in recycling efforts.

“Our packaging is our most visible billboard,” said Iris Lee, General Manager for Hong Kong and Macau.

“We’re using that power to inspire consumers to recycle and to champion circularity in packaging.”

A recent survey by Coca-Cola Hong Kong found that 77% of consumers believe recycling facilities remain “insufficient or inconvenient,” while 63% would choose beverages with eco-friendly packaging.

The findings underscore the need for more accessible and transparent recycling systems.

Coca-Cola’s announcement follows a wave of similar initiatives worldwide. In Japan, Nestlé Waters recently began producing bottles made entirely from locally collected PET, while in Australia, PepsiCo transitioned several of its brands, including Pepsi and 7Up, to 100% rPET bottles.

In Singapore, Fraser & Neave (F&N) introduced the first locally recycled PET water bottles earlier this year.

By tapping into local recycling infrastructure, Swire Coca-Cola’s project demonstrates how regional circular economies can reduce waste, cut carbon emissions, and inspire consumers to participate in sustainable change.

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