Coca-Cola HBC begins EU-wide replacement of plastic wrap on can multipacks

Launches KeelClip™ technology in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Austria

25-Nov-2020 - Switzerland

Coca-Cola HBC has successfully begun the roll out of KeelClip™ technology in The Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Austria as the first step in its commitment to replace plastic wrap on all can multipacks in its European Union markets. The initiative will save more than 3,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ and 2,000 metric tonnes of plastic each year.

This new “Grip&Go” packaging is the result of a €15 million investment by the company in a strategic partnership with Graphic Packaging International (Graphic Packaging) and forms part of a wider commitment by Coca-Cola HBC and its partner The Coca-Cola Company to build a more sustainable approach to packaging. The roll out across all the company’s EU markets plus Switzerland will be complete by early 2022.

Marcel Martin, Group Supply Chain Director at Coca-Cola HBC, said: “By investing in this innovative new technology we are directly supporting our customers and their consumers by providing a more sustainable packaging format. At the same time, we are delivering on our commitment to make a more positive environmental impact.”

Alan Crawford, Trading Director, SPAR/EUROSPAR Ireland, said: “Coca-Cola HBC has taken a leadership position in the soft drink category, introducing a really new and exciting type of packaging. The move to the new KeelClip and paperboard packaging will eliminate a significant amount of packaging from our supply chain which is very important for us as an organisation and the environment we operate within. The appearance of the multipack cans in KeelClip packaging is also more attractive to our customers, so we expect the change to support increased sales as well as taking an important sustainability position.”

As part of the initial agreement with Graphic Packaging, Coca-Cola HBC will install 11 KeelClip™ machines in seven countries, that will supply the solution across all its EU countries.

Steve Gould, new product development and marketing director of the beverage division at Graphic Packaging, said: “We are committed to work with Coca-Cola HBC to deliver this exciting innovation. We will continue to support the ongoing roll out and commercialisation across Coca-Cola HBC’s EU markets and are delighted to be partners in this endeavour.”

https://www.yumda.com/en/news/1168811/coca-cola-hbc-begins-eu-wide-replacement-of-plastic-wrap-on-can-multipacks.html