to be disappointed in coca cola

[ToTravelIsToLive]

They have announced they will not ditch single use plastic due to them being light weight and resealable. Every second 20,000 drinks in plastic bottles are purchased so even just ditching their mini plastic bottles for glass or alternative would make a huge difference! They are the global leader so could have set a precedent for others. When we were on holiday in Kenya they only gave out glass and you returned your bottle to the shop for a % of your money back. This was even in the most rural areas! In Germany I always remember seeing vending machines that you returned glass bottles to for € so it is possible.

YABU - I like the convenience of plastic and agree with coca cola

YANBU - I would not be put off / I would be more inclined to buy their products if they were in a more environmentally friendly package.

[doritosdip]

Will the cost of transporting heavier drinks be worse for the environment?

The cans are fully recyclable right?

[PhilomenaChristmasPie]

Why don't people just rinse out and reuse the plastic bottles?

[Urkiddingright]

They should put them in resealable cans, problem solved. I try not to buy bottled water but sometimes fall short so I buy it in a resealable can which just feels better than a plastic bottle.

[doritosdip]

I often buy Coke in 2l bottles rather than individual size as we are a family and pouring a glass is cheaper than individual cans or bottles. Do any countries have 2l glass bottles?

[Retroflex]

@doritosdip "Will the cost of transporting heavier drinks be worse for the environment?"

Yes! Absolutely, without a doubt, transportation of heavier cargo will be more damaging to the environment...

Can sizes are typically 250ml 330ml 500ml
Glass Bottles are typically up to 1 litre

To transport the amount of Coca-Cola currently consumed (litres) in any of the above mentioned mediums, would take considerably more packaging, therefore more cargo, which may be heavier... Cans can be recycled, however, the amount which actually are recycled leaves a lot to be desired...

[katy1213]

Probably best all round just to stop buying fizzy drinks!

[Retroflex]

@PhilomenaChristmasPie "Why don't people just rinse out and reuse the plastic bottles?"

I'm currently sitting with a 1.5 litre bottle of Coca-Cola beside me. I literally can't have it refilled with coke although I wish I could

I don't buy smaller sized plastic bottles of fizzy drinks, and to be honest, I don't drink alcohol, so Coca-Cola is my treat drink.

I have a "chili" bottle which I use for my cordial, and I have found a delicious lime and mint one, which is in a glass bottle, so that's my usual cold drink...

[ToTravelIsToLive]

Cans are fully recyclable I believe. Not sure on their environmental impact but the articles are about the boss of coca colas response to the bottles not cans. I don't think there is a perfect solution buy I almost spat my tea out when I heard the number produced. Even doing an incentive for plastic ones to be returned direct to the industry to be recycled would be a big improvement

[SemperIdem]

I don’t understand why they’ve approached it as though glass is the only alternative and cans don’t exist

[Cryingoverspilttea]

Because single use plastic is intended for just that, @PhilomenaChristmasPiemultiple uses and washes with detergents (fairy??) and temp changes means chemicals and plastic particles leech from the plastics more readily. Plastics get in to your endocrine system and will quite litterally, fuck you up from the inside. Ruining your thyroid, adrenals, all sorts.

Single use plastics are intended to be safe for only one avg lifetime of that item. It's why they come with a warning about 'not intended for reuse'

[Retroflex]

@katy1213 "Probably best all round just to stop buying fizzy drinks!"

Actually in the 1980's when I was growing up, the "Soda Stream" was a popular "go to" kitchen gadget, where you'd use water straight from the tap, and just a little bit of concentrated flavouring...

I can see this making a huge comeback!

[Dogno1]

I think it's the rise of consumerism too. I can remember even 20years ago it was still quite common to have the milkman, pop man, tea delivery, and the veg man every week. Supermarkets are a one stop shop though, and people find it much easier to fit in to their working lifestyles. Plus all the above worked with cash. Im rarely in enough to catch the window cleaner these days, nevermind all of the above.

[SerendipityJane]

Aren't Coca Cola responsible for pulling water from local communities to make their gloop ?

waronwant.org/media/coca-cola-drinking-world-dry

3 litres of water to make 1 of coke ...

I'd say worrying about the bottles is the least part ...

[ToTravelIsToLive]

I think it's because cans come in 1 size and their bottle range has about 4 different sizes. I'm not sure what the answer is buy it's very disheartening hearing such a huge producer of plastic not entertaining an alternative.

[Retroflex]

@SemperIdem "I don’t understand why they’ve approached it as though glass is the only alternative and cans don’t exist confused"

Because many people, myself included find "shopping" much more affordable when you're buying in larger sizes. With reduced packaging per "item", the price becomes reduced.

Coca-Cola at the moment is 2 x 1.5l bottles for £3 (so 3 litres in total) a 500ml bottle is £1.25(ish) so for 3 litres, it would cost £7.50, that's £4.50 more expensive! for the same "amount" of the product, because as I said, they need to factor in packaging and shipping costs, plus the amount of shelf space in shops etc...

[ToTravelIsToLive]

@SerendipityJane I am not surprised by that at all

[Widowodiw]

Scotland are bringing in the bottle tske back scheme - vending machine you put your bottles in a get a cash back. England will follow. this will be for glass, plastics and cans actually.

I don't see why you are surprised there was no way coca cola were going to not use plastic bottles. they are too big and make too much money for governments to make them. I guess the only way they will change if people stop buying in the fist place. there is debate in the industry about which is actually better for the env cans or plastic bottles. However, as there is a massive lack of facilities for recycling pet bottles we now buy cans instead.

[katy1213]

@retroflex Get bizzy with the fizzy .... I longed for one of those! Never had one.

[PineappleDanish]

But it's not just soft drinks.

Why aren't shampoo manufacturers getting pelters for using plastic bottles? Or Heinz, for making ketchup in plastic bottles. Or all the kitchen cleaning products?

We do still buy Coca Cola and other soft drinks in bottles. Not every week, but we buy them and they do get recycled. But on the flip side, we haven't used shower gel or bottled shampoo for years. We get our cleaning products in refillable bottles from Splosh.

So i'm not beating myself up about a few 2 litre bottles of fizzy a month.

[Retroflex]

The Coca-Cola plastic bottles are 100% recyclable though, so if people were taking recycling seriously, including the refuse centres (which may or may not be able to process the different types of recyclable material), then a lot of the problem with single use plastics would be focused (quite rightly) on the non recyclable types...

[ToTravelIsToLive]

@Widowodwi that's good to hear Scotland are taking the lead. Hopefully it will reach the rest of the UK soon! I'm not surprised they didn't announce they would drop plastic but thought they would at least be open to discussion on alternatives rather than just a no.

[SerendipityJane]

Coca Cola are a very nasty company. With some very dubious - if not illegal - business practices around the world.

www.amazon.co.uk/Belching-Out-Devil-Adventures-Coca-Cola/dp/0091927048?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Coca-Cola and its logo are everywhere. In our homes, our workplaces, even our schools. It is a company that sponsors the Olympics, backs US presidents and even re-brands Santa Claus. A truly universal product, it has even been served in space. From Istanbul to Mexico City, Mark travels the globe investigating the stories and people Coca-Cola's iconic advertising campaigns don't mention. Child labourers in the sugar cane fields of El Salvador. Indian workers exposed to toxic chemicals. Colombian union leaders falsely accused of terrorism and jailed alongside the paramilitaries who want to kill them. And many more...Provocative, funny and stirring, "Belching Out the Devil" investigates the truth behind one of the planet's biggest brands.

As I say, if only the bottles were the worst thing about them.

[ToTravelIsToLive]

@PineappleDanish I agree other companies have just as much accountability but the post was in response to Coca Cola's response to being asked about it. I put the poll to see if mumsnet agrees with their claims it's what customers want.

[Retroflex]

@katy1213 I loved my soda stream when I was younger! I wonder if I would still enjoy the flavours now though, I have no idea what flavours there are or even if you can currently buy them... Going to check Amazon...

[WhatHaveIFound]

Probably best all round just to stop buying fizzy drinks!

Agree with this 100%. I gave soft drinks up when i was pregnant 18+ years ago and couldn't stomach them. If i have Coke now it gives me terrible indigestion.

Recently we had a 18th party for DD and chose to buy drinks in glass bottles and cans. Whilst cans have a bigger carbon impact to begin with they can be recycled into more cans going forward. Plastic bottles can't be used to make more bottles.