DS Smith PLC, the leading global sustainable fibre-based packaging company and Coca Cola HBC Austria have collaborated to replace plastic handles for 1.5 litre PET soft drink multi-packs with cardboard based outer packaging. This new plastic replacement solution will be delivered to supermarkets in Austria as of September 2023.

The innovative packaging solution, DS Smith Lift Up, is a 100% recyclable corrugated handle which improves carry functionality for consumers and is designed to contribute together with other partners to the kraft paper and cardboard based solution that reduces around 200 tonnes of plastic each year for Coca-Cola HBC Austria.

DS Smith and Coca-Cola HBC share a strong vision for innovative packaging solutions designed to be 100% recyclable and to use the least amount of material needed.

DS Smith Lift Up was designed using DS Smith’s unique Circular Design Metrics approach resulting in a significant reduction in carbon footprint for the packaging and manufacturing line of products. The DS Smith Lift Up innovation can be applied to different bottle sizes and is manufactured in partnership with Krones, a leading packaging machine manufacturer. The carrier handle has a soft grip that makes products easy to carry while they remain secure within their sustainable packaging. This has been designed for PET bottles for consumption at home.

Stefano Rossi, CEO Packaging Solutions Division, DS Smith:

“We are proud to partner on this innovative packaging solution, driving out unnecessary waste and single use plastic. The DS Smith Lift Up concept was designed using DS Smith’s Circular Design Metrics approach, so it uses the least amount of material possible, reduces impact on the environment and looks fantastic in stores and supermarkets.

Collaboration with our partners Coca-Cola HBC and Krones is key to reducing single use plastics and delivering innovative change at scale. We hold sustainable design at the heart of what we do as a company, and this is a shining example of the opportunity for innovation in packaging to lead the way to a more sustainable future for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers”.

Marcel Martin, CCHBC’s Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer:

“This is the first-ever packaging solution of its kind for 1.5 litre multipacks of Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite. It’s the result of our entrepreneurial mindset, an absolute belief in collaborating with trusted partners and our focus on reaching net zero emissions by 2040. In 2022, our company was ranked for the sixth time as the world’s most sustainable beverage company 2022 by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, one of the world’s leading global sustainability benchmarks. We are honoured that our score positioned us top among more than 7,000 companies across 61 industries according to the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2023. 2023 continued with the highest sustainability scores from the MSCI ESG Ratings, for the ninth year running. However, we understand the immense size of the task we have in front of us to create a more sustainable business. We’ll continue to innovate, collaborate and invest so we can continue to deliver our drinks in sustainable ways.”

The new packaging solution for 1.5 litre PET multi-packs will be used for Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, and Mezzo mix brands in Austria.

DS Smith PLC

DS Smith is a leading global provider of sustainable fibre-based packaging, which is supported by recycling and papermaking operations. The company plays a central role in the value chain across sectors including e-commerce, fast moving consumer goods, food and beverage, and industrials. Through its purpose of Redefining Packaging for a Changing World and its Now and Next sustainability strategy, DS Smith is committed to leading the transition to a circular economy, while delivering more circular solutions for its customers and wider society inclusive of replacing problem plastics, taking carbon out of supply chains, and providing recycling solutions alongside innovative R&D. A unique approach to service and optimisation of sustainable supply chains, bespoke box-to-box in 14 days model, design capabilities and innovation strategy, sit at the heart of this purpose. Headquartered in London, DS Smith is listed as member of the FTSE100. The business operates in thirty-four countries, and is responsible for circa 30,000 employees, with headquarters in London, United Kingdom. It is a strategic partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation which works with business, academia, policymakers, and institutions, to mobilise global systems solutions at scale and accelerate the transition to a circular economy. DS Smith was started by the London based Smith family as a box-making business in London in the 1940s.

Links: Redefining Packaging for a Changing World - www.dssmith.com/packaging/about/our-sustainability-strategy

Website: www.dssmith.com

Coca-Cola HBC

Coca-Cola HBC is a growth-focused consumer packaged goods business and strategic bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company. We open up moments that refresh us all, by creating value for our stakeholders and supporting the socio-economic development of the communities in which we operate. With a vision to be the leading 24/7 beverage partner, we offer drinks for all occasions around the clock and work together with our customers to serve 740 million consumers across a broad geographic footprint of 29 countries. Our portfolio is one of the strongest, broadest and most flexible in the beverage industry, with consumer-leading beverage brands in the sparkling, adult sparkling, juice, water, sport, energy, ready-to-drink tea, coffee, and premium spirits categories. These include Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Fanta, Sprite, Schweppes, Kinley, Costa Coffee, Caffè Vergnano, Valser, FuzeTea, Powerade, Cappy, Monster Energy, The Macallan, Jack Daniel’s and Grey Goose. We foster an open and inclusive work environment amongst our 33,000 employees and believe that building a more positive environmental impact is integral to our future growth. We rank among the top sustainability performers in ESG benchmarks such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, CDP, MSCI ESG, FTSE4Good and ISS ESG. Coca-Cola HBC has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: CCH) and is listed on the Athens Exchange (ATHEX: EEE).

Website: https://www.coca-colahellenic.com/

Krones Technology

Krones are a one-stop shop for producers of liquid consumer goods. Top-quality beverages and liquid foods are made of valuable raw materials like water, plant-based proteins and oats, fresh milk or hops, malt and yeast. But before they leave the factory, they go through a host of different processing steps – and the Krones Group has a suitable technical solution for each of these, starting with production itself, then state-of-the-art filling and packaging lines right through to plastics recycling, intralogistics and digitalisation.  The company is headquartered in Neutraubling, Germany.

Website: https://www.krones.com