Coca-Cola is initiating a trial of label-less packaging for its Sprite brand in the UK, aiming to simplify the recycling process and cut down the use of packaging material.  

This pilot, which is the company’s first in the UK, involves the removal of labels from the 500ml recycled polyethylene terephthalate bottles of its Sprite and Sprite Zero range. 

As part of the limited trial, Coca-Cola will replace labels from these ranges with embossed logos on the front and laser-engraved product information on the back. 

The initiative, starting this month and running through March 2024, is being tested in eight Tesco Express stores across Brighton and Hove, Bristol, London, and Manchester. 

The move to label-less bottles is designed to streamline the recycling process by eliminating the need for label separation and reducing overall packaging material.  

Although the brand's current labels are fully recyclable, this new approach could further optimise the recycling workflow, it claims. 

The redesigned bottles will continue to feature green and transparent attached caps for product identification.  

Coca-Cola GB&I and Franchise Operations VP Dusan Stojankic said: “We want to help create a future where plastic drink packaging will always have more than one life.

"Labels contain valuable information for consumers, but with the help of technology we can now trial other ways to share this information while reducing the amount of packaging we use."

The trial is part of Coca-Cola's broader efforts to reduce its packaging waste, which includes transitioning Sprite bottles from green to clear plastic and introducing attached caps to prevent littering. 

In October 2023, Coca‑Cola revealed its plans to launch 100% recycled plastic bottles across Canada.