Coca-Cola Amatil switches to recyclable paper straws. Credit: Marco Verch via Flickr

Coca-Cola Amatil Australia has announced that it will distribute biodegradable Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accredited recyclable paper straws, ending its distribution of single-use plastic straws and stirrers.

Coca-Cola Amatil, Coca-Cola’s bottler and distributor for Asia Pacific, said it plans to stop the distribution of the single-use plastic straws and stirrers over the next two months as stocks deplete. It aims to continue developing sustainable solutions for straws on Tetra Pak-supplied packaging, plastic spoons and frozen drink scoops.

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Coca-Cola Amatil group managing director Alison Watkins said: “We’re serious about playing our part in reducing unnecessary plastic packaging. We’ve heard the community message loud and clear – that unnecessary packaging is unacceptable and we all need to work together to reduce the amount entering litter streams, the environment and the oceans.”

Sourced from suppliers BioPak and Austraw, the recyclable paper straws will be available from February via Coca-Cola Amatil’s ordering platform to around 115,000 outlets nationwide including petrol, grocery and convenience stores, cafes, bars and quick service restaurants. Coca-Cola Amatil said it aims to “develop the business case for weighted average of 50% recycled plastic in PET containers, including carbonated drinks, across the Australian portfolio,” by 2020.

Watkins said: “We are working towards phasing out unnecessary and problematic single-use plastics entirely, through improved design, innovation or the use of recycled alternatives.”

The Coca-Cola Company aims globally to make 100% of its packaging fully recyclable, including all bottles, cans, plastic wrap, straws, glass and cardboard, by 2025. Last year, the drinks giant launched its ‘World Without Waste’ initiative with a target to collect and recycle one bottle or can for every one produced by 2030.