Coca-Cola and Grab Launch 'Recycle Me' Recycling Program, Rewards Consumers for Collecting Empty PET Plastic Bottles

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The alarming plastic waste problem prompted Coca-Cola to partner together with Southeast Asia’s super app Grab to help consumers recycle empty PET plastic bottles. Together with Yayasan Mahija Parahita Nusantara and Waste4Change, Coca-Cola, and Grab are launching the ‘Recycle Me’ consumer recycling program, offering rewards to encourage people in Jakarta, Tangerang, and Bekasi to recycle their plastic bottles.

“We're on a mission to collect more empty bottles so we can make new ones with them,” said Triyono Prijosoesilo, Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability Director at PT Coca-Cola Indonesia.

The 'Recycle Me' program offers consumers both rewards and the opportunity to contribute positively to the environment. Coca-Cola Indonesia recently made a significant step in sustainability in June 2023 by launching bottles made from 100%  recycled PET (rPET) plastic, except for caps and labels. 

This move offers Indonesian consumers an eco-friendly packaging option. As a recyclable material, PET plastic is integral to achieving a circular economy. Currently, one out of every three bottles Coca-Cola introduces in Indonesia is crafted from 100% recycled PET plastic sourced and made locally in Indonesia. The ‘Recycle Me’ program will collect, sort, and send empty PET plastic bottles for recycling.

“It’s as simple as visiting our ‘Recycle Me’ website, then the Grab delivery service will send the bottles to collection centers managed by the Yayasan Mahija Parahita Nusantara. And, just like that, you’ve participated in #BeraniMengubah (Dare to Change) in the effort of #JagaIndonesia (Protect Indonesia),” Triyono said.

According to Triyono, Coca-Cola Indonesia identified an opportunity with Grab to use its network and logistics to support Coca-Cola’s goal. “It’s a great fit with our ‘World Without Waste’ vision, under which we are working to support a closed-loop circular economy for our packaging in Indonesia,” he said.

This is Coca-Cola’s third year of collaborating with Mahija Parahita Nusantara Foundation and Waste4Change in the program, which every year is growing in scale and partner involvement – to help more Indonesians understand the value of recycling. 

Each recycled bottle is given a new lease on life, as it is processed into another bottle at the Amandina Bumi Nusantara’s recycling facility. Amandina’s recycling facility is a state-of-the-art facility in Indonesia, established by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Indonesia (CCEP) and Dynapack Asia, that processes locally sourced post-consumption PET bottles provided by Mahija Parahita Nusantara and converts them into new bottles, specifically into Coca-Cola’s 100% recycled PET plastic bottles.

Tirza Munusamy, Chief of Public Affairs, Grab Indonesia said, through this partnership with Coca-Cola, Yayasan Mahija Parahita Nusantara, and Waste4Change, they are actively supporting the promotion of recycling habits in Indonesia as their concrete step to achieving zero packaging waste in nature by 2040.

“We believe that preserving the environment and minimizing climate change impact would ensure long-term economic success for our partners and community,” she said.

The 'Recycle Me' program will run for three months, from October 6th, 2023 to December 31st, 2023. Consumers who wish to participate can send 8 used PET plastic bottles from Coca-Cola Indonesia’s range of beverage products. The Grab delivery service will deliver all the collected PET bottles to 8 Mahija Parahita Nusantara collection centers located in the DKI Jakarta, Bekasi, and Tangerang areas. 

Vice Chairman of Mahija Parahita Nusantara Foundation and Managing Director of Amandina Bumi Nusantara, Suharji Gasali said, the collected PET plastic bottles will become raw material, which will then be sent by the Yayasan Mahija Parahita Nusantara to the Amandina Bumi Nusantara recycling facility.

“Yayasan Mahija Parahita Nusantara Foundation is proud to again be involved in this inspiring program. This effort not only collects empty plastic bottle packaging from consumers to our collection partners but also supports the efforts to implement a closed-loop circular economy. The,” Suharji said.

Mohamad Bijaksana Junerosano, Managing Director of Waste4Change, explained, that companies like Coca-Cola and Grab can play an important role in using the power and reach of their brands to drive consumer awareness around recycling and help to inspire behavior change. 

"We are very proud to be able to once again take part in this inspiring movement. We are certain that the ‘Recycle Me’ program this year will have a significantly greater impact in reducing plastic waste in Indonesia,” Sano said.

The first 20,000 consumers who participate will have the opportunity to get a shipping fee subsidy of up to Rp 30,000. In addition, consumers have the chance to earn reward points, which can be exchanged for phone credit, electricity tokens, and e-wallets worth a maximum of Rp 15,000 on OVO (electronic wallet money).

INFO TEMPO

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