Bangkok, 18 October 2023 – The Coca-Cola system in Thailand, comprising ThaiNamthip Corporation Limited, HaadThip plc, and Coca-Cola (Thailand) Ltd., is taking a meaningful step towards circularity for plastic packaging with the nationwide launch of Coca-Cola Original Taste and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar 1-litre bottles made from 100% recycled PET plastic (excluding caps and labels).
‘Coca-Cola’ currently offers at least one brand made from 100% recycled PET bottles (excluding caps and labels), in more than 40 countries around the world including Coca-Cola packages in Indonesia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, and now Thailand. The 100% recycled PET plastic bottles (excluding caps and labels) maintain the high-quality consumers expect, adhering to The Coca-Cola Company’s stringent global standards for food-grade 100% recycled PET bottles (excluding caps and labels), and are certified by Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration.
This latest initiative from Coca-Cola Thailand is aligned with The Coca-Cola Company’s ambitious global sustainable packaging strategy, under which the company aims to make 100% of its primary consumer packaging recyclable globally by 2025, use at least 50% recycled plastic in its packaging by 2030 globally.
Sarut Wittayarungruangsri, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Director, Coca-Cola (Thailand), said: “We recognize the urgency and complexity of the plastic waste challenge in Thailand, and we know it will take a collaborative effort to solve this issue. In line with our commitment to helping build a circular economy in the country, we are working to offer innovative packaging design such as our new 100% recycled PET bottles (excluding caps and labels), expand our collection and recycling programs, and deepen our stakeholder and industry partnerships. We are also leveraging the power and reach of the Coca-Cola brand to actively engage Thai consumers in recycling initiatives and build awareness that empty plastic bottles can have many lives.” he said.
These efforts build on the ‘Coke Recycle Me with Trash Lucky’ campaign which has been running for the last three years with the aim of motivating Thai consumers to distinguish and separate out valuable recyclable packaging from non-recyclable waste. Over the last three years, the campaign has collected over 700,000 PET bottles and it is anticipated the campaign will reach one million bottles within this year. ”Coke Recycle Me with Trash Lucky” is a six-month campaign running from July 1 to December 31, 2023 run by Trash Lucky, with prizes totaling 2 million baht sponsored by ‘Coca-Cola’. The recyclables can be submitted in 64 drop-off locations in Bangkok and 5 drop-off locations in Phuket.
Coca-Cola is also inviting consumers to drop off their empty bottles at recycling stations including at high-traffic spots in EmQuartier and Center Point, Siam Square. The collected bottles are then transported to leading recycler ENVICCO for recycling into new bottles made from 100% recycled PET plastic (excluding caps and labels).
Natthanun Sirirak, Managing Director of ENVICCO Limited, said: “As Envicco Companies in the GC Group, we are industry leaders in the production of high-quality, consumer-safe recycled plastic pellets. Upon receiving Post-Consumer Recycled PET sourced from our Thai partner networks, we subject them to various processing steps. This transforms them into high-quality recycled plastic pellets equal to new plastic pellets under the InnoEco brand. Our recycling technology and strict production controls, including a European-standard laboratory, ensure compliance with USFDA and Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration safety regulations. This allows us to create food contact packaging containers. Our pellets used for beverage packaging adhere to strict cleanliness and safety standards and international regulations. We take pride in contributing to sustainable resource management aligning with the needs of our valued customers.”
Natthamon Wongkittipat, Director of Marketing of The Mall Group Company Limited, said: “The Mall Group, Thailand’s pioneer in green retail, is an organization committed to the strategy of conserving natural resources and promoting environmental sustainability under the ESG concept. Today marks the official launch in Thailand of “Coke” bottle made from 100% recycled plastic (excluding caps and labels). The Mall Group is delighted to support such initiative by allocating space for Giant ‘Coke’ Bottle in front of Gourmet Market, The EmQuartier. This serves as a collection point for recycled materials and encourages sustainable waste separation behavior.”
Coca-Cola is supporting the launch of its new 100% recycled PET plastic bottles (excluding caps and labels) with digital-led communications, including out-of-home advertising and KOLs. Additionally, recycling stations will be set up across Coca-Cola events in 2023, with opportunities to win prizes, including VIP tickets to COKE Studio concerts.
Coca-Cola recently organized a consumer recycling activation at the EmQuartier shopping mall and Centerpoint Siam Square, Bangkok, designed to educate consumers on the importance of waste separation. Participants were encouraged to bring a minimum of five ‘Coke’ bottles for recycling, with the first 30 registrants offered exclusive seating for a mini-concert, featuring Coke’s ‘Magic Maker’, PP-Krit Amnuaydechkorn.
For more information on the sustainability initiatives of Coca-Cola Thailand, follow the company’s social media channels: Facebook and Instagram or visit www.coca-cola.com/th/th
