Coca-Cola is piloting a new secondary packaging concept in Germany that eliminates plastic film by using adhesive dots to hold bottles together, combined with a recyclable cardboard handle. The initiative, developed in collaboration with bottling partner Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), reflects the company’s continuing efforts to reduce plastic waste and improve recyclability across its European markets.
The trial is taking place in selected PENNY stores and applies to six-bottle multipacks of Coca-Cola Original Taste and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar in the 1.25-litre format. The project aims to assess both technical performance and consumer response before broader implementation.
Each pack uses precisely placed glue dots to keep the bottles securely grouped during transport and handling. The cardboard handle is designed for convenience and can be recycled through standard paper and cardboard collection systems once removed. The bottles themselves remain fully compatible with existing PET recycling streams.
Coca-Cola says the pilot is part of a wider portfolio of sustainable secondary packaging solutions being explored in Europe, alongside other plastic-reduction formats such as KeelClip, LitePacTop and CanCollar. The trial will provide insights into the feasibility and acceptance of this approach as the company continues to test alternatives that maintain functionality while reducing environmental impact.
