Packaging and recycling

Sustainable development addresses economic, environmental and social objectives. We are encouraged to use packaging that:

• is made from responsibly-sourced materials
• is designed to be effective and safe throughout its life cycle
• meets market criteria for performance and cost
• meets consumer choice and expectations
• is recovered efficiently after use wherever possible

Recovery programmes and associations

Packaging plays a vital function in ensuring quality, safety and convenience of food and beverages. We work with governments, other industry members, community organisations, consumers and others to:

• comply with regulations on packaging waste
• fulfil our commitments of proper handling of packaging materials during and after production and distribution

We are often the initiator and catalyst for the introduction of programmes that range from those we conduct independently and that involve industry cooperation, to others that focus on education and collective community involvement.

For example, in 2007 we helped launch the BiHPak packaging association in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We were also involved in establishing a packaging recovery organisation in the Czech Republic .

National cross-sector packaging associations aim to influence national environmental legislation covering:

• the marketing, sourcing, manufacture and distribution of packaging used for packaged products
• the management of used packaging

By supporting legislation that is transparent, effective and in proportion to the impacts of packaging and packaging waste, members are able to innovate, compete and operate in a resource-efficient way.

Packaging associations also stimulate stakeholder dialogue and conduct strategic communications programmes.

Materials Beverage packaging consists mostly of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, metal (aluminium and steel) and glass. We strive to reduce the weight of all packages as part of our waste prevention programme. Our new Danube PET bottle, launched in 2007, is one of the lightest in the marketplace. It weighs only 15g and is over a third lighter than its predecessor. The UltraGlass bottle, which uses a third less glass, is now used in 17 countries.

Recycled content

Read about our bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in Austria .

In 2007, based on our share of volume, we paid almost €40 million to recovery organisations to achieve the national set recovery and recycling targets and to ensure that all legal obligations were met.

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