As part of its commitment to sustainability, Coca-Cola has redesigned the premium Eva Water bottle for Nigeria, using less plastic in the process.
The company claims that by using this “lightweighting” approach, the amount of plastic that might otherwise wind up in landfills is decreased, and the need for virgin plastic is also significantly decreased.
According to a release from the company, “it represents a major step forward in reducing Coca-Cola’s carbon footprint and fostering a more circular economy where resources are used more efficiently and waste is drastically minimized.”
Coca-Cola’s global packaging initiative, “World Without Waste,” was introduced in January 2018 and aims to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle or can the company sells by 2030. According to the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Nigeria is facing a serious plastic pollution crisis that is causing significant harm to the environment.
From the imbalance created in the oceans and the eroding of biodiversity to its outright influence on pollution, public health, and climate change, the country is estimated to generate 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with its commercial capital, Lagos, producing 870,000 tonnes annually.
According to the NESG, these numbers are a major cause for concern, especially as the ubiquity of plastic waste is steadily growing, with no directed measures to curb the increase. Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, Senior Director of Public Affairs, Communication, & Sustainability at Coca-Cola Nigeria, emphasised the importance of this initiative, stating, “Less plastic does not mean less quality.
The lightweighting of our bottles is an essential stride towards minimizing our packaging’s plastic content, reducing landfill waste, and crafting a more sustainable planet and hopeful future.”
Coca-Cola claims that this program has already reduced the amount of virgin plastic produced annually by 3,000 tons, creating a model that other businesses can follow. “Every package Coca-Cola introduces should lead a life beyond its initial use. That is the company’s clear vision.”
The company is actively contributing to a healthier, greener planet for future generations as well as meeting the growing demand for sustainability from consumers by embracing and innovating eco-friendly packaging solutions.
The company said that in addition to doing its share to address the global packaging issue, it will keep working with government agencies, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and value chain participants in the collection and recycling of waste to realize its goal of a waste-free world more quickly and with greater positive effects.
