Page 27 - Plastics News February 2025
P. 27
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
Coca-Cola Considers More Plastic
Bottles Amid Aluminum Tariffs
while, Coca-Cola has already scaled back its
sustainability goals, lowering its commitment to
using 50% recycled packaging by 2030 to just
35-40% by 2035.
This shift raises concerns among environmental-
ists, as Coca-Cola has been named the world’s
top plastic polluter for six consecutive years. Un-
like aluminum, which boasts a high recycling rate
and lower long-term environmental footprint,
oca-Cola is weighing a shift toward in- plastic bottles contribute heavily to pollution. A
creased plastic bottle usage in the U.S., global recycling crisis, coupled with weak waste
Cciting rising aluminum prices due to tariffs management systems, means the majority of
imposed by the Trump administration. The com- plastic packaging ends up in landfills, oceans, or
pany’s CEO, James Quincey, acknowledged that incinerators.
if aluminum cans become too costly, they may With the beverage giant facing economic pres-
prioritize PET plastic bottles, which are cheaper sures, the balance between cost efficiency and
but significantly less recyclable.
sustainability is being tested. As businesses ad-
The decision follows Trump’s executive order just to shifting policies, the impact of these de-
imposing a 25% tariff on imported steel and cisions on plastic waste and environmental re-
aluminum, a move aimed at boosting domestic sponsibility remains a critical global concern.
production but with unintended consequences Source: EHN
for industries reliant on metal packaging. Mean-
February 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 27
