The programme launched by Coca-Cola aims to increase consumer awareness around the value of recycling PET plastic bottles after use. — Photo courtesy of Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola Vietnam on Wednesday launched the "Our bottles can live many lives" programme in co-operation with Duy Tân Plastic Recycling and VECA, the digital scrap collection application.

The programme sees Coca-Cola using the reach of its flagship brand – coupled with its first digital partnership with VECA – to help drive PET plastic bottle collection and recycling in HCM City. This is another step toward Coca-Cola’s vision of a “World Without Waste" as the company works with strategic partners to trial ways to support circularity for PET plastic bottles in Việt Nam.

The programme launched by Coca-Cola aims to increase consumer awareness around the value of recycling PET plastic bottles after use. It offers consumers in HCM City a convenient way to recycle using VECA’s digital scrap collection application. With the VECA smartphone app, consumers in HCM City can connect directly with collectors who buy and sell bottles after use. Not only can the consumers set a convenient time and place to sell their empty bottles to collectors, but they can also earn accumulated points to redeem prizes.

Plastic PET bottles collected through VECA will be transferred to Duy Tân Recycling to be processed into new bottles that can have many lives. Duy Tân has been a strategic partner of Coca-Cola since 2018 and is at the forefront of recycling technology and plastic packaging production in Việt Nam. Duy Tân Recycling is the first enterprise in the country to successfully establish bottle-to-bottle recycling in compliance with Vietnamese regulations and Coca-Cola’s strict global standards for recycled plastic.

Phan Tuấn Hùng, Director of the Legal Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said: “In the context of Extended Producers’ Responsibilities going into effect soon, we highly appreciate Coca-Cola’s efforts and initiatives to support a circular economy model with strategic partners. This cooperation between Coca-Cola and local collectors and recyclers shows the company’s long-term commitment and pioneering stance in implementing the manufacturer’s responsibility. The Legal Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment always supports the initiatives and projects of pioneering businesses such as Coca-Cola.”

Leonardo Garcia, General Director of Coca-Cola Vietnam and Cambodia, said: “Coca-Cola has a global World Without Waste vision aiming to help collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle and can that it sells by 2030 while also using at least 50 per cent recycled materials in its packaging by 2030 globally. Through our “Our bottles can have many lives” programme, we can inspire people to take action and recycle their bottles as we together foster a circular economy in Việt Nam.” — VNS