Coca-Cola, which is frequently chastised for being one of the world's worst plastic polluters, is changing the bottles of its eponymous beverage as part of a years-long effort to be more ecologically friendly. All Coca-Cola versions (zero sugar, diet, original, etc.) sold in 20-ounce bottles will be made from 100% recycled plastic, marking the latest milestone for the beverage giant on its path to meeting its 2030 goal of producing half of its portfolio from recycled material.

Pollution from single-use plastic remains a serious issue, with a new survey revealing that firms are creating record volumes despite attempts to be more environmentally responsible. Plastic is troublesome since it is mostly constructed of polymers derived from harmful fossil fuels.

Kurt Ritter, vice president of Coke's sustainability operations in North America, exclusively told CNN that consumers are asking for more environmentally friendly packaging options, such as recyclable or reusable packaging. "We understand that as a major international beverage company, it is our duty to take the lead and innovate."

Before becoming national in 2022, Coca-Cola initially released recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) in the US in a select states in 2021 with Dasani. A year later, Coca-Cola made a significant shift by eliminating the green PET ingredient from Sprite bottles, which proved hard to recycle into new bottles. Its recognizable green packaging had to be modified as a result.

According to Ritter, Coca-Cola (KO) believes that the new bottles would cut the amount of plastic used in its US supply by 83 million pounds, or two billion bottles. Ritter referred to the improvements as "significant."

Clients will observe a new label indicating the modification, but the bottle itself won't seem or feel all that different from the packaging that is now on sale. The labels and caps, however, won't be entirely composed of recycled plastic.