The Coca‑Cola Company is rolling out new redesigned soda bottles.
For the first time in a decade, 12-, 16.9- and 20-oz. bottles of Coca‑Cola, Sprite, Fanta, and Minute Maid Refreshments are sporting new shapes that require less raw material to produce.
"We've been continuously working to 'right-weight' our bottles, incrementally going from 27 to 21 grams over the last 10 years," Alejandro Santamaria, Sr. Director for Global Packaging Development and Innovation, said in a statement. "Our breakthrough innovations in modeling technology, which reduce the weight of our bottles to 18.5 grams, represent a major step in reducing the amount of materials used while preserving the durability and functionality of our packaging and, most importantly, the quality and taste standards of our beverages."
The company said its new bottles, which will gradually roll out across the U.S. and Canada in 2024, will deliver significant sustainability benefits. The transition is projected to reduce use of new plastic by approximately 800 million bottles in 2025 compared to 2024. The packaging shift is also estimated to reduce carbon emissions in an amount equivalent to taking more than 17,000 cars off the road for one year.
The bottles are made by injecting heated liquid resin into test tube-like "preforms," which are then inflated into bottle molds with the final intended shape.
"The secret is finding the right preform design, combined with bottle shape features, that allow you to lightweight without compromising quality," said Santamaria. "This is especially critical with sparkling beverages, which must maintain specific carbonation levels to preserve taste when opened."
The company said testing is underway to potentially apply the new lightweight designs to multi-serve 2-liter and 24-oz. bottles.