Beverage bottler Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) announced on Monday that it will phase out the distribution of plastic drinking straws and stirrers in Australia over the next two months, and replace them with fully recyclable and biodegradable FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) accredited paper straws.
The new straws which will be introduced in February, will be sourced from BioPak and Austraw and made available to around 115,000 outlets including grocery, petrol and convenience stores, bars, cafes and quick service restaurants.
“We’re serious about playing our part in reducing unnecessary plastic packaging,” said CCA managing director Alison Watkins.
“We’ve heard the community message loud and clear – that unnecessary packaging is unacceptable and we all need to work together to reduce the amount entering litter streams, the environment and the oceans. “
The company is also working on sustainable options for straws on Tetra Pak-supplied packaging, as well as for plastic spoons and scoops for frozen drinks.
CCA aims for its Australian packaging to be fully recyclable by 2025, including all bottles, cans, plastic wrap, straws, glass and cardboard.
“We are working towards phasing out unnecessary and problematic single-use plastics entirely, through improved design, innovation or the use of recycled alternatives,” Watkins said.
Last year, Coca-Cola Amatil announced a number of sustainable goals it plans to reach by 2020, including improvements in water efficiency, reducing its carbon footprint and using responsible sourcing criteria.
The Coca-Cola Company is also developing sustainable packaging goals to increase the recycled content in plastic bottles, and supports recycling programs in Australia.
