Swire Coca-Cola Expands rPET Use and Bottle-to-Bottle Recycling in Hong Kong
Swire Coca-Cola rPET recycling
Swire Coca-Cola Expands rPET and Bottle-to-Bottle Recycling Efforts
Swire Coca-Cola has released its 2025 Sustainability Report, highlighting major progress in recyclable packaging, recycled PET (rPET) adoption and emissions reduction initiatives across its operations.
The company stated that 99.5% of its primary packaging is now technically recyclable by weight, bringing it close to its goal of achieving full recyclability by 2025.
Focus on Recyclable PET Packaging
As part of its packaging strategy, Swire Coca-Cola continues to improve PET bottle design to make recycling more efficient and scalable.
The company said it has increased the use of clear PET instead of coloured plastics, reduced label sizes and removed PVC components that can disrupt recycling systems. These design-for-recycling measures are intended to improve material recovery rates and support a more circular packaging system.
Expansion of 100% rPET Bottles
Swire Coca-Cola also reported significant growth in the use of recycled PET across its beverage portfolio in Hong Kong.
All 500 ml bottles of Coca-Cola Original, Coca-Cola No Sugar and Coca-Cola Plus are now made using 100% rPET, excluding caps and labels. Selected Bonaqua water bottle formats have also transitioned to 100% recycled PET material.
According to the company, increasing the use of rPET helps reduce dependence on virgin fossil-based plastics while lowering packaging-related carbon emissions.
Lightweight Packaging Remains a Priority
The sustainability report also outlines continued efforts to reduce the amount of resin used in PET bottles.
Swire Coca-Cola said it is lightweighting bottles while maintaining compatibility with existing filling lines and distribution systems. Reducing material use remains a key strategy for cutting packaging waste and lowering Scope 3 emissions linked to packaging production.
In addition to lightweight bottles, the company continues to support refillable and returnable packaging formats as part of its broader circular economy approach.
Hong Kong Bottle-to-Bottle Recycling Loop
One of the report’s key developments is the expansion of local bottle-to-bottle recycling infrastructure in Hong Kong.
Swire Coca-Cola has started using locally sourced food-grade rPET supplied by New Life Plastics, described as Hong Kong’s first food-grade PET bottle recycling facility.
The company said this marks the first local bottle-to-bottle recycling loop for beverage packaging in Hong Kong, helping strengthen domestic recycling capabilities and reduce reliance on imported recycled materials.
PET Bottle Collection Initiatives Continue
Swire Coca-Cola also highlighted ongoing collection programmes aimed at improving PET bottle recovery rates.
A community recycling initiative launched in Hong Kong in 2022 has reportedly collected around 8.8 million beverage bottles so far. The programme is designed to encourage consumer participation in recycling while increasing the supply of recyclable PET material.
Broader Sustainability Progress
Beyond packaging and recycling, the company reported additional progress in renewable electricity adoption, energy-efficiency improvements and water stewardship programmes across its operations.
Packaging remains one of the company’s largest contributors to Scope 3 emissions, making recycled content, lightweighting and collection systems central to its long-term sustainability strategy.
Visit Swire Coca-Cola
