America’s leading beverage companies take their environmental stewardship seriously. From water conservation to improved fuel efficiency to recycling, our industry is taking comprehensive conservation actions.

On Monday, the Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo both joined the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP). This innovative partnership is an important step in curbing global plastic pollution and another example of beverage companies working together to address important issues.

The partnership will be a collaboration with governments and “stakeholders in coastal economies who are battling waste,” per the WEF press release. The partnership’s main goal is to develop a more circular global economy. A circular economy is a regenerative approach to production and consumption, in which products and materials are redesigned, recovered and reused to reduce environmental impacts.

According to WEF, the first collaboration will take place in Indonesia, where the government has a national plan to reduce ocean plastic pollution by 70 percent over the next seven years. The government, along with community groups and entrepreneurs, is already fighting pollution in Indonesia. Support from the Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo, among others, will give these stakeholders the resources they need to create scalable and sustainable solutions that can then be tailored and applied to other countries around the world.

James Quincey, President and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, said, “We are proud to partner with the World Economic Forum on this important initiative. The world has a packaging problem, and our World Without Waste vision aims to help solve it. A litter-free world is possible, and we want to help lead the way.”

Meanwhile, Joe Banner, President of the PepsiCo Foundation, said, “Building a more sustainable future is one of PepsiCo’s highest priorities, which is why we are working to urgently address the buildup of plastic waste. We’re proud to join this partnership and believe it is the kind of innovative, cross-sector coalition that is essential to developing practical solutions for redesigned waste management systems in coastal communities.”

The American Beverage Association is proud to showcase our members’ efforts to conserve our planet. Click here to read the press release and learn more about this ambitious partnership.