Packaging

Beverages come in all shapes and sizes to meet an ever-changing set of consumer needs. We think that’s a good thing.

The beverage industry provides choices through a variety of convenient packaging options that consumers enjoy. But, packaging is more than just an attractive bottle or can. It protects the integrity of the product, ensures safety and long shelf life, provides information to consumers and minimizes waste from spoilage or damage.  

The beverage industry understands the need to produce packaging materials in the most efficient way possible to minimize the environmental impact. That means using less packaging wherever possible, using recycled materials in our packages and using materials that can be recycled by consumers. We employ these same principles for not only our bottles and cans, but also for the packaging we use to protect, transport and display our beverages.

The Environmental Pledge

 American Beverage Association members support five packaging principles consistent with our commitment to environmental stewardship:

• Use recyclable or reusable packaging whenever feasible
• Design packaging for recyclability
• Design packaging that requires less material to conserve natural resources
• Explore ways to incorporate recycled materials into packaging and other products
• Label packaging in a manner that helps educate consumers on proper waste management

Fulfilling the Pledge

The beverage industry is constantly innovating and improving its packaging to be effective, while at the same time reducing its overall environmental footprint. To that end, our work on lightweight containers has paid off. For our carbonated beverage products, for example, the industry used 40 percent less packaging in 2003 than in 1990, while increasing sales by 45 percent.

We want to continue this kind of dramatic progress in packaging design, while also realizing that some packaging will still be necessary and that we need to be sure that packaging can be recovered. Today, beverage bottles and cans are not only widely recognized as recyclable, but are among the most recycled consumer product packages.

The beverage industry actively supports the Environmental Protection Agency's goals for reducing and recycling waste in the United States. Ultimately, waste diversion goals or targets should be realistic and achievable. However, recycling goals also should challenge business, consumers and government to be proactive in their solid waste reduction and recycling programs. goals for reducing and recycling waste in the United States. Ultimately, waste diversion goals or targets should be realistic and achievable. However, recycling goals also should challenge business, consumers and government to be proactive in their solid waste reduction and recycling programs.