Coca-Cola replaces plastic with paper in grouping packaging

Coca-Cola European Partners (a Coca-Cola bottler in Europe) announced in Spain the launch of "CanCollar", an innovative cardboard packaging solution for multipack cans. The material replaces the plastic rings.
The action is part of Coca-Cola's goal of removing all unnecessary or hard-to-recycle plastic from its portfolio. According to the company, the measure will prevent the use of more than 18 tons of virgin plastic per year across Europe.
Initially, Coca-Cola European Partners will launch the new PEFC-certified sustainable paper CanCollar in the Balearic Islands in November this year.
The packaging design was developed in partnership with WestRock. Coca-Cola European Partners invested 2.6 million euros in its factory in Barcelona to make the initiative viable. The installation of WestRock's manufacturing equipment will allow multipack cans to be grouped sustainably and ecologically correctly, with a process that does not require the use of glue or adhesives.
Joe Franses, vice president of sustainability at Coca-Cola European Partners, said the westrock agreement exemplifies "the clear commitment to reducing plastic in our secondary packaging. By the end of 2020, we will have removed more than 4,000 tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic from our secondary packaging in Europe."