As environmental issues remain a priority in Florida, the state鈥檚 beverage industry is taking proactive and collaborative action to reduce plastic waste and improve recycling. 聽Through our Every Bottle Back initiative, the Florida Beverage Association (FBA), alongside national partners and local communities, is taking a leadership role in creating a more sustainable future.
Led by The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper, and PepsiCo, and supported by environmental leaders like World WildlifeFund, Closed Loop Partners, and The Recycling Partnership, Every Bottle Back is more than just a campaign鈥� it鈥檚 a commitment to reshape the lifecycle of beverage containers and show the value of a circular economy.
At the core of this initiative is a deliberate design choice: creating bottles that are 100% recyclable and Made to Be Remade.
PET is Not the Problem鈥擨t鈥檚 Part of the Solution
Our industry uses PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic to manufacture bottles that are strong, lightweight, and 100% recyclable. Unlike single-use plastics, PET is designed for reuse and is the mostrecycled plastic in America. Using recycled PET (rPET) instead of virgin plastic reduces total energy consumption by 79% and cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 67%. That鈥檚 real, measurable progress.
With rPET in high demand, our focus is also on increasing recycling rates鈥攖hrough investments in infrastructure, education, and partnerships鈥攖o get more bottles back, so we can turn them into new bottles. 鈥淢ade to Be Remade鈥� isn鈥檛 just a tagline鈥攄esigning with the end in mind is core to our philosophy. Our bottles and caps are engineered to be 100% recyclable, and we鈥檙e communicating that directly on packaging to educate and remind families.
Investing in Infrastructure, From Jacksonville to the Keys
Florida communities are at the forefront of our strategy. We鈥檝e helped bring recycling education to residents in Jacksonville through the 鈥淔eet on the Street鈥� anti-contamination program. This initiative alone is expected to recover 96 million pounds of recyclable material over the next ten years, including 3.7 million pounds of PET and 1.2 million pounds of aluminum, which could have otherwise been land铿乴led or littered across our beautiful state. And it’s working! So far, we鈥檝e reduced contamination in the recycling stream by 23%.
Our coalition has also invested in local programs across Orange County Public Schools, the City of Coral Gables, Bill Baggs Cape State Park, the City of Miami, and more鈥攂ringing new recycling opportunities to neighborhoods, schools, and public spaces.
Nationally through a $100 million industry fund, we鈥檙e leveraging the equivalent of nearly half-a-billion dollars to modernize and expand community recycling programs. Florida has been a key bene铿乧iary, and ourgoal is to do even more.
Community Impact with Industry Accountability
What makes Every Bottle Back unique is the integration of public education with measurable, community-level results. We are not simply encouraging more recycling 鈥� we are giving Floridians the tools, infrastructure, and information they need to do it e铿�ectively.
And we鈥檙e inviting everyone to be a part of the solution. The Florida Beverage Association works hand in hand with municipalities, environmental organizations, school systems, and the public to expand access to recycling and help shift consumer behavior.
With strategic investment, collaboration, and the right materials, we can build a circular economy that reclaims valuable materials, reduces our reliance on new plastic and protects our environment.
Our industry isn鈥檛 waiting for others to act鈥攚e鈥檙e leading the way. And we鈥檙e asking local government, businesses, and individuals to join us in ensuring that we get every bottle (and aluminum can) back鈥ecause Florida鈥檚 future is worth it!