CHILE – Coca-Cola Andina and Coca-Cola Embonor, the bottling divisions of Coca-Cola in Chile, have announced plans to establish a new recycling facility named “Re-Ciclar.”
This state-of-the-art plant is set to recycle 350 million plastic bottles annually, transforming them into 100% recycled PET resin, a significant milestone in sustainable packaging for the region.
The US$35 million investment, jointly funded by the two companies, will be situated in an 8,000-square-meter facility in the Lampa commune within the metropolitan area of Santiago de Chile.
Matías Mackenna, the general manager of Re-Ciclar, explained that the partnership between Coca-Cola Andina and Coca-Cola Embonor is integral to the plant’s operation.
“Coca-Cola Andina and Coca-Cola Embonor are partners in their participation and operation,” Mackenna stated.
“At the operational level, the daily management of the plant is in the hands of an executive team hired directly by Re-Ciclar and led by a general manager. This structure allows an efficient distribution of tasks and responsibilities, ensuring the correct functioning of the plant.”
Re-Ciclar will be the first facility in Chile to produce beverage packaging containing recycled food-grade material.
Starting in 2025, all beverage bottles in Coca-Cola’s local portfolio will include 15% recycled PET resin, with plans to gradually increase this percentage to 100% recycled containers over time. This initiative aligns with Coca-Cola’s global commitment to sustainability and reducing plastic waste.
The Re-Ciclar facility in Chile will be the third Coca-Cola-operated recycling plant in Latin America, following similar projects in Mexico and Paraguay.
Paola Calorio, sustainability director for Coca-Cola Chile, stated: “In different parts of the continent, we already use containers with recycled material in varying percentages. In some countries, such as Bolivia and Argentina, we already have bottles made with 100% recycled PET.”
In addition to establishing the new facility, Coca-Cola aims to collect nearly 10,000 tons of PET for recycling by 2024.
To achieve this, the company has formed strategic partnerships with local organizations, including the National Association of Recyclers of Chile, Latitud R, and The Possible City, to strengthen the recycling chain and support grassroots efforts.
Coca-Coal invests in U.S.
Simultaneously, Swire Coca-Cola, another major Coca-Cola bottler, is planning to construct a 570,000-square-foot bottling facility near Denver International Airport in Colorado.
The facility, which will include plastic and aluminum bottling operations, is part of a US$270.7 million, 75-year ground lease agreement approved by the Denver City Council.
This facility marks a significant expansion in Coca-Cola’s manufacturing and distribution capabilities in the United States.
Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE
