10,000 tons and 350 million plastic bottles are recycled each year, and Coca-Cola invests in recycling PET in Chile
Coca-Cola's two main bottling plants in Chile, Coca-Cola Andina and Coca-Cola Embonor, have announced a major initiative to recycle 350 million plastic bottles each year at the two plants. This effort is part of their broader commitment to sustainability and includes the construction of a state-of-the-art recycling facility called Re-Ciclar, which will produce 100% recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin. This recycled material will be used in beverage packaging for Coca-Cola products in Chile.
1. Overview of recycling facilities The Re-Ciclar plant is a joint development between Coca-Cola Andina and Coca-Cola Embonor, with an investment of US$35 million. The plant covers an area of 8,000 square meters and is located in the Lampa community within the Santiago metropolitan area. Matías Mackenna, general manager of Re-Ciclar, explained that while the two bottling companies jointly own the plant, daily operations are overseen by an independent management team hired specifically for the plant. "Operational management is led by a general manager and a dedicated team, which ensures efficient task allocation and smooth operation of the plant," McKenna said. This structure allows the plant to operate independently while maintaining a collaborative relationship between the two companies.
2. Coca-Cola's first recycling of food-grade PET in Chile The Re-Ciclar plant will be Coca-Cola's first plant in Chile to produce beverage packaging using recycled food-grade PET resin. Starting in 2025, this recycled material will be incorporated into all Coca-Cola beverage bottles in the country, with an initial goal of 15% of each bottle being made of recycled PET. Over time, Coca-Cola aims to increase this proportion and eventually reach 100% recycled bottles. Coca-Cola's global commitment to sustainability has seen similar efforts in other countries. In Latin America, Re-Ciclar joins two other recycling plants operated by Coca-Cola in Mexico and Paraguay. In Paraguay, for example, Coca-Cola Paresa, in partnership with INPET and CORESA, operates a circular PET plant that contributes to the company's recycling goals. However, Re-Ciclar is considered the most advanced facility in the region.
3. Expanding sustainability efforts throughout Latin America Paola Calorio, Coca-Cola's director of sustainability in Chile, stressed the importance of this new facility in the company's broader Latin American recycling initiatives. According to her, Coca-Cola already uses varying percentages of recycled PET in its containers across the continent. In Bolivia and Argentina, for example, some bottles are made entirely of 100% recycled PET.
Calorio also noted that Coca-Cola's long-term goal is to reduce its reliance on virgin plastic and increase the use of recycled materials. The company's investment in new recycling infrastructure such as Re-Ciclar is essential to achieving this vision. "Re-Ciclar is the most modern bottle recycling operation in Latin America and it will help us significantly reduce our environmental footprint in the region," she added.
4. Collecting and processing PET bottles By 2024, Coca-Cola Andina and Coca-Cola Embonor aim to collect approximately 10,000 tons of PET bottles for recycling. To achieve this goal, they are working with various organizations across Chile, including the Chilean National Association of Recyclers, Latitud R and Possible Cities. These teams play an important role in the recycling supply chain as they manage the collection, storage and delivery of PET materials to recycling plants. Re-Ciclar's recycling process starts with the collection of plastic bottles by local recycling organizations. Once the bottles are delivered to the plant, they go through a rigorous washing and sorting process. After that, the bottles are crushed into small flakes and then go through an extrusion, crystallization, and post-condensation process. These steps help restore the physical and chemical properties of PET, converting the fragments into high-quality recycled resin pellets that can be used to make new beverage containers.
5. Coca-Cola's broader sustainability vision The establishment of Re-Ciclar is in line with Coca-Cola's global sustainability goals, including reducing waste, promoting recycling, and minimizing the impact of its packaging on the environment. The company has pledged to use at least 50% recycled materials in its packaging by 2030 and is working towards a "waste-free world," a vision that focuses on collecting and recycling every bottle or can it sells by 2030.
The Re-Ciclar plant in Chile is an important step in achieving this vision in Latin America. By investing in modern recycling technologies and building strong partnerships with local organizations, Coca-Cola demonstrates its commitment to driving sustainable development and reducing its environmental footprint in the region. In short, Coca-Cola's investment in recycled PET in Chile highlights its contribution to sustainable development and innovation. "With the Circular Plant, the company is not only increasing its recycling capabilities, but also promoting a more circular economy where materials are reused rather than thrown away. This initiative will help Coca-Cola achieve its ambitious environmental goals and set a new standard for beverage packaging in Chile and beyond."
