13 Aug 2020 Coca-Cola launches paperboard multipack rings in European first
Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) has adopted CanCollar paperboard-based ring technology for its multipack cans in Europe, with the initial launch in Spain’s Balearic Islands and further rollout anticipated.
The PEFC-certified, recyclable and sustainably-sourced CanCollar replaces the current Hi-cone plastic ring solution, saving more than 18 tons of plastic annually.
The CanCollar is a product of WestRock, a global company. CCEP’s adoption of the solution brings it closer to removing all unnecessary or hard-to-recycle plastic from its portfolio and avoiding the use of more than 11,000 tons of virgin plastic a year across Western Europe.
CCEP, the world’s largest independent Coca-Cola bottler, has invested €2.6-million in its Barcelona plant to support this initiative. The installation of WestRock’s CanCollar Fortuna manufacturing equipment will enable multipack cans to be grouped in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way, with a process that does not require glue or adhesives.
Maximum appeal, minimal material
WestRock describes CanCollar as a solution that achieves maximum consumer appeal while using the minimum amount of material required to hold the cans together through the supply chain. Patent-pending tooth design and wet strength CarrierKote paperboard create a minimalist yet robust paperboard ring.
CarrierKote is a renewable, responsibly-sourced, recyclable paperboard, containing up to 15% recycled content. The CanCollar surface can be printed or embellished to reinforce brand elements and elevate the consumer experience.
“The agreement with WestRock exemplifies our clear commitment to reducing plastic in our secondary packaging. By the end of 2020, we will have removed more than 4,000 tons of hard-to-recycle plastic from our secondary packaging in Western Europe. It’s through collaborating on innovative packaging solutions like CanCollar that we can do this,” notes Joe Franses, VP of Sustainability, CCEP.
“We are proud of our longstanding partnership with Coca-Cola. For 70 years, we have supported Coca-Cola in bringing innovation to global beverage markets. CanCollar is the latest initiative supporting Coca-Cola’s vision to create a World Without Waste,” adds Dwayne Irvin, VP of Enterprise Solutions at WestRock.
EU plastics tax on the horizon
In response to intensified regulatory and consumer demand for more environmentally sustainable packaging in Europe, beverage producers are increasingly exploring alternatives to conventional plastic rings and shrink wrap. ….
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