Coca-Cola aims for 100% recycling

Coca-Cola Co. has set a 100% recycling target for the aluminum beverage cans it sells in the US. Coca-Cola said it currently uses an average 60% recycled aluminum in its beverage cans. In 2007, Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. created Coca-Cola Recycling LLC to recover and recycle the packaging materials developed and used by the Coca-Cola system.

Coca-Cola has previously set a goal to recycle or reuse 100% of its PET plastic bottles. It spent US$60 million in a series of recycling initiatives, including support of RecycleBank's curbside collection program and the construction of the world's largest PET bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in South Carolina (US).

"We established Coca-Cola Recycling to help increase recycling rates in North America and to ensure that our system has ready access to recycled material," said John Burgess, president and chief operating officer of Coca-Cola Recycling. "By the end of 2008, Coca-Cola Recycling will recycle more than 100 million pounds each of PET and aluminum."

One out of every two aluminum cans is recycled today, Coca-Cola said. Recycling aluminum is efficient and requires 95% less energy than creating aluminum from raw materials. It also reduces carbon emissions by 95%. 

Atlanta-based Coca-Cola said the 100% goal is a long-term target.