Coca-Cola Company, producers of Sprite soft drink, has embarked on an environmental sustainability drive to create more value for waste aggregators in Ghana who depend on collecting and selling plastic packaging waste for a viable income.

The move, which is a major step by corporations around the world to save the environment, also forms part of Coca-Cola’s World Without Waste initiative which aims to collect and recycle plastic, the equivalent of a bottle or can, which it sells, and to use at least 50 per cent recycled material in its packaging by 2030.

Consequently, the company is moving away from its iconic green packaging to fresh, new, clear PET plastic bottles, including an update of the full portfolio’s packaging design that can be easily recycled and made into new bottles.

The transition from green PET to clear PET will increase the value of the plastic in the after-use market in Ghana.

A release issued and signed by the Managing Director of Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company (ECCBC), West Africa Countries Business Unit, Felix Gomis, said “This change will amplify the values that we promote as a system and will help facilitate the sorting process during recycling.

Our vision is to increase our ability to produce products that are as easily recyclable as possible, thanks to clear PET which will ultimately generate more value.”

We all have a role to play in protecting our planet and now we can all enjoy the refreshing taste of Sprite while helping to unlock the worth in waste and support a truly circular economy in Ghana,” he said.

“We’re journeying to a World Without Waste and moving to clear Sprite packs, which means more of our plastic can be collected, recycled and re-used to make new bottles.

With Sprite shifting to clear bottles, it means more bottles will be repurposed into new bottles,” said the Franchise Director for the Equatorial Africa Region at Coca-Cola Africa, Seshnee Naidoo.

New look

According to the release, Sprite’s new clear look features a see-through bottle, a refreshed icon of the brand’s bold and Sprite ‘spark’, with a distinct label and bright green cover.

To help consumers easily identify their favourite Sprite variant, each bottle will have a distinct label and different colour closure.

“Sprite Zero Sugar will have a bright green label with black flash and a green cap. The new look Sprite Zero Sugar is currently available in all retail outlets and Coca-Cola distributors across the country,” the release added.