Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, the local Coca-Cola bottler for Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York City, is partnering with WestRock , a leading provider of sustainable paper and packaging solutions, to implement a paperboard carrier that will replace plastic rings for multipack bottled beverages. This collaboration will see WestRock's PETCollar Shield Plus paper-based packaging used at Liberty's Philadelphia production facility for Coca-Cola’s top brands. The durable, easy-to-hold carriers will package 12-ounce (355 milliliter) and 16.9-ounce (500 milliliter) products, distributed throughout Liberty’s multi-state territory. Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages will be the first bottler globally to implement the PETCollar Shield Plus bottle clip solution.
"We are committed to investing in technology that produces recyclable beverage containers, reducing the need for secondary plastic packaging," said Fran McGorry, co-owner of Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages. "Collaborating with packaging producers like WestRock is essential for significant change in reducing plastic waste. We are proud to make this change."
The new paperboard carrier packaging system is expected to be operational by summer 2024, adding to Liberty’s existing paperboard packaging for mini-cans introduced in 2022. Combined, these systems are projected to replace 200,000 pounds of plastic annually from Liberty's operations.
WestRock's PETCollar Shield Plus is a paperboard multipack carrier and part of the PETCollar product family, offering various sizes, designs, and configurations for bundled bottles. "Liberty Coca-Cola continues to innovate by promoting secondary packaging alternatives to plastic while catering to their diverse consumer base," said Sam Shoemaker, president of Consumer Packaging at WestRock. "We share their commitment to innovation and sustainability."
This commitment to PETCollar Shield Plus packaging is part of Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages’ broader sustainability efforts. Liberty was the first U.S. bottler to replace plastic rings for mini-cans and among the first to produce and distribute bottles made from 100% recycled plastic (excluding cap and label). Additionally, Liberty has installed a sustainable compactor that reduces their carbon footprint and processes large volumes of plastic and aluminum containers for recycling.
"We are dedicated to making investments in our communities and caring for the environment," said Paul Mulligan, co-owner of Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages. "We will continue to invest in systems that set a new industry standard. We aim to lead by example and do the right thing."
