DS Smith & Coca-Cola HBC's Sustainable Beverage Packaging

The food and drink industry faces a continuous challenge in reducing its environmental footprint, particularly concerning plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from packaging.

In response, a collaboration between DS Smith, Krones and Coca-Cola HBC is addressing the issue of single-use plastic for beverage multipacks.

Together, they are introducing a recyclable packaging solution aimed at creating a more circular economy.

Developing sustainable packaging machinery

DS Smith has engineered the Lift Up, a corrugated cardboard handle designed for 1.5-litre soft drink bottles.

This fibre-based alternative is intended to replace traditional plastic shrink-wrap, offering a fully recyclable option that optimises material usage.

The design also presents a major branding opportunity, with a paper label that wraps around the bottles, providing 360-degree visibility on the shelf.

For consumers, the Lift Up handle is designed for comfort and ease of carrying.

The creation of the Lift Up handle was a collaborative effort involving DS Smith’s mechanisation partner Krones, a manufacturer of packaging machinery.

Krones, which works with various packaging material suppliers, helped test and develop the design.

According to Krones, its manufacturing method for this fibre-based solution has the potential to cut energy consumption by up to 58% during the production process when compared to traditional methods.

This efficiency in manufacturing could mean a lower carbon footprint throughout the supply chain.

Stefano Rossi, CEO of Packaging Solutions Division at DS Smith, says: “We are proud to partner on this innovative packaging solution, driving out unnecessary waste and single-use plastic.

"Collaboration with our partners Coca-Cola HBC and Krones is key to reducing single-use plastics and delivering innovative changes 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.”

Coca-Cola HBC’s partnership

Coca-Cola HBC has partnered with DS Smith to replace its plastic shrink-wrap with the new cardboard Lift Up handles.

The companies initiated a trial of the packaging in Austria in 2023, distributing the newly packaged multipacks to supermarkets across the country.

This move aligns with the shared goal of both Coca-Cola HBC and DS Smith to develop packaging that is 100% recyclable while using the minimum amount of material necessary.

The switch to this recyclable packaging format can help Coca-Cola HBC save an estimated 200 tonnes of plastic a year, contributing to a reduction in its overall carbon footprint.

Marcel Martin, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer for Coca-Cola HBC, says: “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.

"We’ll continue to innovate, collaborate and invest so we can continue to deliver our drinks in sustainable ways.”

Meeting corporate sustainability targets

This packaging initiative is a key component of Coca-Cola HBC’s wider sustainability commitments.

Coca-Cola HBC, which is responsible for bottling and distributing Coca-Cola products in 28 markets, has set ambitious targets in its Mission 2025 plan, covering climate, packaging and water.

One of its primary objectives is to achieve net zero emissions by 2040.

Coca-Cola HBC has already reached several of its 2025 targets, including a 58% decrease in direct carbon emissions from a 2017 baseline and ensuring 100% of its primary packaging is recyclable.

The partnership with DS Smith directly supports these goals, particularly the commitment to circularity, as the cardboard Lift Up handle can be fully recycled and repurposed into new products.