INDIA – Coca-Cola India has launched its Affordable Small Sparkling Package (ASSP) bottle type made with 100% recycled PET (rPET), starting with the state of Orissa.
These 250 mL bottles, lighter than standard ones, are produced by Coca-Cola’s bottling partner, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB).
Through lightweighting PET material, ASSP bottles reduce carbon emissions by 36% compared to conventional virgin PET packaging.
Additionally, the shift from virgin PET to rPET in ASSP contributes to an overall 66% decrease in the carbon footprint.
“Our efforts at expanding rPET in India demonstrate our commitment to increasing the availability of high-quality, food-grade, recycled plastic for consumers,” says Enrique Ackermann, Vice President for Technical Innovation and Supply Chain at Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia.
“With these eco-friendly bottles, we aim to drive a circular economy for packaging, reduce waste, and lower carbon emissions, aligning with our World Without Waste goal of using 50% recycled content in bottles by 2030.”
Coca-Cola India faced the challenge of keeping smaller-sized products fresh and affordable, which led to the creation of the ASSP, introduced in 2016 as the “lightest bottle in the world for fully carbonated products.”
Weighing less than 10 grams, the ASSP took nearly two years to develop using proprietary computer simulation methods.
This design uses one-third less plastic than a standard 15.5-gram bottle in India and includes a thin barrier layer to prevent carbonation loss, extending product shelf life by five months or more.
This innovation reduces plastic usage in sparkling product bottles by up to 40% compared to standard bottles.
“The introduction of rPET in ASSP is a crucial step toward plastic circularity, significantly reducing the overall carbon footprint,” says Alok Sharma, Executive Director for Supply Chain at HCCB.
“This initiative supports our broader vision of promoting sustainable practices and leading the beverage industry towards a greener future in India.”
Coca-Cola aims to make 100% of its packaging recyclable globally 2025 and to incorporate at least 50% recycled material in its packaging by 2030.
However, some argue that lightweight plastic packaging does not necessarily reduce overall plastic usage.
The Plastic Soup Foundation points out that more lightweight packages are produced, and such packaging can break down into smaller, more harmful pieces when it enters the environment.
In regions with lower consumer buying power, companies like Unilever and Danone sell small packages with minimal product amounts, resulting in more packaging material than larger sizes.
To significantly reduce plastic usage, the Foundation advocates for a system where consumers refill their reusable containers.
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