Liberty Coca-Cola eliminates plastic rings from aluminium can multipacks

Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, a local company that bottles Coca-Cola products ranging from Diet Coke and Sprite to Powerade and Monster Energy, has eliminated plastic rings from aluminium can multipacks. Coca-Cola bottlers in Europe have previously adopted Graphic Packaging International's KeepClip paperboard packaging solution. According to Liberty, this will be the first swap in the United States.

Aluminium is one of the most sustainable and recyclable materials on the earth. Recycling aluminium serves current and future generations by preserving energy and other natural resources. They have a lower carbon footprint than glass or other metals throughout the consumption phase (transport and refrigeration). The development of the aluminium industry towards environmental efficiency has a considerable knock-on impact on different sectors.

Plastic rings have long been a source of worry for environmentalists and marine scientists. Because of their potential to get caught around animals' noses, mouths, and bodies, these rings may imperil birds, mammals, turtles, and other marine creatures when they enter the water. Plastic goods are expected to kill 100,000 marine species per year. The rollout will begin within 30 days, with retailers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Delaware receiving the product.

“Liberty is thrilled to be the first bottler in the United States to implement this innovative packaging system. We know that the most valuable change to reduce plastic waste occurs when bottlers and packaging producers work together in partnership. We look forward to partnering with Graphic Packaging on sharing this sustainable packaging in our local communities for years to come,” said Paul Mulligan, co-owner of Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages.

These rings also contribute to the rising problem of ocean waste. According to 2021 research, over 8 million metric tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year, a problem exacerbated by the fact that plastic may take hundreds of years to biodegrade. Liberty predicts its new policy will help remove 75,000 pounds of plastic annually.