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The Coca-Cola Company has announced that it is shifting to recycled plastic (rPET) bottles for several of its drink brands across the US.

Coca-Cola will first introduce the new 13.2oz ‘sip-sized’ bottles made from 100% rPET (excluding the cap and label) for its Coca-Cola trademark brands.

Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero Sugar and Coca-Cola Flavors will roll out the new bottle starting this month in select states in the Northeast, Florida and California. Fanta bottles will also be available. In California and New York, 20oz rPET bottles will also be available across the same brands and will roll out this spring in Texas.

Brands such as Dasani and Smartwater will follow suit with 20oz rPET bottles launching in March and July, respectively. In February, select markets will roll out a new 13.2oz clear Spite bottle, making it easier to be recycled and remade into new bottles. All Sprite packaging will transition to clear packaging by the end of 2022.

Coca-Cola says combined, the packaging shifts will represent a more than 20% reduction in its use of new plastic across its North American portfolio compared to 2018 – an estimated reduction of 10,000 metric tons in GHG emissions annually.

The introduction of rPET bottles in the company’s home market follows similar moves abroad such as Western Europe, bringing the total to 19 markets globally.

In the summer, the new ‘conveniently sized and sippable packaging’ will roll out across additional sparkling beverage brands nationwide.

“On-the-go consumers have been telling us they want an option like this, because it’s just the right amount for the ‘snacking’ occasion. We believe this innovation delivers the double benefit of convenience and sustainability,” said Tammy Lee, brand manager, Coca-Cola Trademark.

The shift comes after Coca-Cola pledged to make 100% of the packaging recyclable by 2025 and to use 50% recycled material in bottles and cans by 2030.

“Given our scale and resources, we realise our unique opportunity and clear responsibility to make a positive difference in the global plastic crisis, bringing us closer to our ambitious World Without Waste goals,” said Alpa Sutaria, VP and general manager, sustainability, North America unit at The Coca-Cola Company.

Each 100% rPET bottle will feature on cap messaging, as well as a “Recycle Me Again” message on the label to encourage consumers to recycle their bottles and support closed-loop recycling systems.