Coca-Cola replace plastic handles with “LIFT UP” cardboard – DS Smith

DS Smith PLC, the global sustainable fiber-based packaging enterprise, and Coca-Cola HBC Austria have cooperated to substitute plastic handles for 1.5 liter PET soft drink multi-packs with cardboard-based outer packaging. 

Its new plastic alternative solution will be provided to supermarkets in Austria as of September 2023.

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

DS Smith and Coca-Cola HBC convey a strong vision for innovative packaging solutions that are 100% recyclable and utilize the least amount of material required.

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. It has been designed for PET bottles for consumption at home.

Stefano Rossi, CEO of 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 the impact on the environment, and looks fantastic in stores and supermarkets.

Collaboration with our partners Coca-Cola HBC and Krones is critical 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 for 1.5-litre multipacks of Coca-Cola, Fanta, and Sprite. It results from our entrepreneurial mindset, an absolute belief in collaborating with trusted partners, and a 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 honored that our score positioned us at the top among more than 7,000 companies across 61 industries, according to the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2023. 2023 continued with the ninth year’s highest sustainability scores from the MSCI ESG Ratings. 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 liter PET multi-packs will be used for Austria’s Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, and Mezzo mix brands.