Coca-Cola Launches Bold Upgrade to Iconic Bottle Design with 100% Recycled Plastic

Coca-Cola’s new 100% recycled bottle design sets a major milestone in sustainable packaging and aims to cut millions of pounds of plastic waste.

The Coca-Cola Company has announced a significant transformation to its iconic 20-ounce bottles, introducing a bold sustainability push by switching to 100% recycled plastic across its flagship drinks, including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, and Coke Zero. The update, marked by the new “Recycle Me Again” label, is more than a branding refresh — it’s a commitment to reducing plastic waste on a massive scale.

According to Packaging World, Coca-Cola becomes the first sparkling-beverage brand in the U.S. to fully embrace recycled plastic for all standard 20-ounce bottles. This move is expected to eliminate 80 million pounds of new plastic production annually, equal to about 2 billion fewer plastic bottles entering circulation.

Coca-Cola’s Sustainable Packaging Shift This initiative builds upon Coca-Cola’s ongoing World Without Waste strategy, a global campaign aiming to create a circular economy for beverage packaging. By encouraging consumers to recycle bottles and cans, the company hopes to reintroduce materials back into production, further reducing reliance on virgin plastic. Dasani, Coca-Cola’s bottled water brand, has already been using 100% recycled plastic for its 20-ounce, 1-liter, and 1.5-liter bottles since 2022... Read complete content click link below

However, environmental experts caution that while this shift is a step forward, recycled plastic has limitations. Most plastics can only be recycled once or twice before losing structural integrity. Glass bottles and aluminum cans remain more sustainable long-term due to their ability to be recycled indefinitely without quality loss.

First Rollout and Expansion Plans The 100% recycled 20-ounce bottles first appeared in 2021 in select U.S. states, including California, New York, and Texas. Following positive reception, Coca-Cola has expanded the initiative nationwide in 2025. This move comes as the beverage giant faces mounting pressure over its status as the largest producer of branded plastic waste globally.