Closing the Loop: Coca-Cola Consolidated and Atlantic Packaging Partner for Recycled Stretch Film Solutions
Atlantic Packaging and Coca-Cola Consolidated team up to reduce waste and promote circularity through a recycling pilot program for stretch film.
The concept of a circular economy is centered on eliminating waste and continuously using resources through recycling, reuse and regeneration. Unlike the traditional linear economy, which follows a "take-make-dispose" model, the circular economy strives to create a sustainable system where materials are kept in use for as long as possible, minimizing environmental impacts.
Sustain SC actively promotes a circular economy through our Circularity Accelerator. This initiative collaborates with industries to re-envision waste as an economic engine for South Carolina. Sustain SC is working closely with our partners across the state to connect companies with local solutions to solve their waste challenges and help them meet their sustainability goals. We are also working on a myriad of initiatives to increase education and awareness to promote public and private investment in a circular economy. Benchmarking Reports
For our February Insights article, we are spotlighting the efforts of two Sustain SC members as a model for advancing circularity. The collaboration between Coca-Cola Consolidated, the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States, and Atlantic Packaging, the largest privately held packaging company in North America, to pioneer a closed-loop recycling pilot program for stretch film that exemplifies how strategic partnerships can drive significant progress toward circularity goals. This initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions and decrease reliance on virgin materials by reclaiming and repurposing used stretch film into high-quality post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin.
Melanie Sabella, Vice President of Technical Services at Coca-Cola Consolidated, explained what motivated this partnership, saying, “Atlantic Packaging is always bringing new innovative ideas to us, and this one was interesting because stretch film is a commodity that people don’t often think about.”
Stretch film is essential for business-to-business logistics, ensuring that pallets of products are securely transported through the supply chain. Atlantic Packaging's MUST Stretch Film Management System optimizes the application of stretch film, achieving maximum load containment with minimal material usage. This precision not only reduces waste but also has a positive sustainability impact by limiting the amount of plastic entering the waste stream.
However, implementing this closed-loop system did not come without its challenges. Sabella noted, “One of the biggest challenges was the conversion to a plastic pallet label versus the traditional paper label. Due to challenges with segregating the paper labels from the stretch film after use, contaminants were being introduced in the recycling process. These contaminants would ultimately limit the amount of recycled content we could introduce in the new film, so we made the transition to using plastic pallet labels. We also integrated more onsite training with our frontline teammates to ensure contaminants were not being mixed in with the recycled materials.”
The recycling process involves collecting used stretch film, which is then shredded, granulated, filtered, extruded, and deodorized to produce top-quality PCR resin pellets. These pellets are subsequently transformed into new rolls of stretch film containing recycled content. Speaking to the broader impact, Sabella shared, “One of the largest advantages to this project is the reduction of virgin plastic in the supply chain. The concentration of cleaner bales for recycling also protects the loads from going to a landfill, which often happens when the loads are contaminated with other materials.” Sabella also highlighted the long-term environmental benefits, stating, “Through this pilot program, Coca-Cola Consolidated will use more than 550,000 lbs. less virgin material compared to 2024 and reach a 30% recycled content target.” This year, Sustain SC was thrilled to host our first-ever carbon-neutral event and Symposium. Sustain SC partnered with All4 to do a Scope 1, 2 and 3 assessment of all emissions using the EPA’s Center for Climate Leadership tools, which are based on the GHG Protocol.
This partnership highlights the importance of collaboration in creating impactful, scalable solutions that benefit South Carolina’s economy and environment. Wes Carter, President of Atlantic Packaging adds "This partnership with Coca-Cola Consolidated allows us to demonstrate how closed-loop systems can transform the packaging industry and drive meaningful progress toward a circular economy. Together, we’re proving that sustainable practices can go hand in hand with operational efficiency and environmental stewardship."
Coca-Cola Consolidated and Atlantic Packaging are setting a standard for how industry partnerships can contribute to the circular economy. Through their combined expertise and commitment, these two companies are leading the charge in transforming supply chains. Their efforts are not only advancing circularity within South Carolina but also providing a blueprint for how other organizations can implement meaningful change through collaboration and innovation.
Learn more about this partnership here.
