The Big Change Coca-Cola Is Making To Its Bottles

Coca-Cola has taken a bunch of flack over the years as a result of its impact on the environment. According to The Independent, the company received the title of "Worst Plastic Polluter" from the Break Free From Plastic group in 2019, due to the brand's massive extent of plastic waste found on beaches worldwide. After receiving the condemnation, the brand continued forward, producing plastic bottles despite the international backlash (via The Nation). 

It seems that Coca-Cola plans to turn over a new leaf in 2021, starting with a revamp of their bottle design. According to Delish, the soda giant announced their plans to start selling their signature sodas in 13.2-ounce bottles made of 100 percent recycled plastic. The change doesn't just affect Coke — Sprite bottles should transition to the new material entirely by 2022, with a goal of all Coca-Cola cans and bottles containing at least 50 percent recycled material by 2030. California, Texas, and New York can also expect to see 20-ounce Coke bottles made from recycled plastic coming soon, in addition to Florida and California receiving Smartwater bottles made from reusable aluminum, per Delish.

The new change in design might not make that large of a difference when it comes to Coca-Cola's plastic pollution problems. According to The Guardian, Coca-Cola came in as one of the worst plastic polluters in 2020, and despite the company issuing a statement reaffirming their stance on creating bottles out of recycled plastic, the report states that the plastic pollution goes unrecycled, ruining ecosystems for generations. According to Delish, Coke plans to revamp its bottles in order to reduce waste, but only time can tell if the brand can actually reverse its ecological fortunes and find a way to reduce the damage their products have wreaked.

Keep an eye open for these new bottles in your area soon and enjoy the new design once you can get your hand on them. If you love a bottle of Coke, make sure to keep recycling the products so they make less of an environmental impact and continue to drink ecologically when you can.