Coca-Cola HBC Austria, DS Smith, and Krones have jointly developed a recyclable, corrugated handle for soft drink multipacks – a solution said to replace around 200 tonnes of plastic shrink wrap annually.
Designed for multipacks of 1.5L PET bottles but applicable to different sizes, the DS Smith Lift Up solution consists of corrugated clip with an integrated carrier handle and a paper band. The handle features a soft grip to improve carry functionality and help consumers take their drinks home.
At the same time, the packaging is designed to utilize the minimum amount of material and remain 100% recyclable at end-of-life. Switching to a solution made of kraft paper and cardboard is anticipated to help Coca-Cola HBC save approximately 200 tonnes of plastic every year.
This solution is in the running for a Sustainability Award this year. DS Smith’s design and innovation director, Patricia Oddshammar, tells us how the DS Smith Lift Up intends to align with the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation’s 2030 targets – especially to overcome the difficulties associated with sourcing plastic recyclate to meet the mandated 35% recycled content in plastic shrink film.
She reports that a third-party validated LCA demonstrates that Lift Up reduces the CO2 emissions of a standard shrink film pack by 42%.
Additionally, the pack is produced in partnership with packaging machine manufacturer Krones, and Oddshammar indicates that applying the clip and paper band on high-speed Krones Variopac lines typically reduces overall energy consumption by 58% during the production process.
Lift Up initially applied to multipacks for 1.5L PET bottles of Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, and Mezzo Mix brands in Austria. Now it is available for duo-packs up to eight-packs for small and large PET bottles, and each can be produced on the same packing line.
“We are proud to partner on this innovative packaging solution, driving out unnecessary waste and single use plastic,” says Stefano Rossi, CEO of DS Smith’s Packaging Solutions Division.
“The DS Smith Lift Up concept was designed using DS Smith’s Circular Design Metrics approach, so it uses the least amount of material possible, reduces impact on the environment and looks fantastic in stores and supermarkets.
“Collaboration with our partners Coca-Cola HBC and Krones is key to reducing single use plastics and delivering innovative change at scale. We hold sustainable design at the heart of what we do as a company, and this is a shining example of the opportunity for innovation in packaging to lead the way to a more sustainable future for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.”
Marcel Martin, Coca-Cola HBC’s chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability officer, adds: “This is the first-ever packaging solution of its kind for 1.5 litre multipacks of Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite. It’s the result of our entrepreneurial mindset, an absolute belief in collaborating with trusted partners and our focus on reaching net zero emissions by 2040.
“In 2022, our company was ranked for the sixth time as the world’s most sustainable beverage company 2022 by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, one of the world’s leading global sustainability benchmarks. We are honoured that our score positioned us top among more than 7,000 companies across 61 industries according to the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2023.
“2023 continued with the highest sustainability scores from the MSCI ESG Ratings, for the ninth year running. However, we understand the immense size of the task we have in front of us to create a more sustainable business. We’ll continue to innovate, collaborate and invest so we can continue to deliver our drinks in sustainable ways.”
The development comes after Coca-Cola announced that it would trial a new multipack in Germany, replacing plastic film with glue dots and a recyclable cardboard handle. Applied to six-packs of 1.25L bottles of Coca-Cola Original and Coca-Cola Zero, the solution aims to reduce plastic waste and improve recyclability.
Previously, a collaboration between Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages and WestRock (now Smurfit Westrock) saw 12-ounce and 16.9-ounce multipacks of Coca-Cola beverages packed in recyclable paperboard carriers. The joint effort hoped to replace 200,000 pounds of plastic rings used in multipack bottled drinks.
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