Sprite remade – from green to clear

In 2023, The Coca‑Cola Company made the switch from Sprite’s iconic green plastic bottles to clear plastic, making them easier to recycle into new bottles. While green PET plastic is recyclable, it’s usually converted into single-use items like clothing and carpet that cannot be recycled again.  

Julie O’Toole, Country Lead Coca‑Cola Oceania said the decision to switch from green to clear PET plastic was an important move by the company to drive packaging circularity. “While all our cans, glass and plastic bottles are already accepted for recycling in New Zealand, the move to clear takes us a step further towards a circular economy for our packaging. The shift from signature green to clear Sprite bottles will support local recycling systems as we increase these bottles’ likelihood of being remade into new bottles. We knew it was the right thing to do.”  

The move to the new clear bottle, which the Sprite brand has completed now in over 100 countries, reflects the company’s commitment to prioritise sustainability and drive packaging circularity. Sprite, The Coca‑Cola Company’s second-largest brand, has been sold in iconic green bottles since the drink was first introduced in the United States and internationally in the 1960s.