Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co. has teamed up with Bill Nye to release an animated, stop-motion short film that illustrates the recycling process. The film breaks down the ins-and-outs of plastic recycling for viewers to demystify the process with the goal of inspiring action.
“As we know, we need to reuse plastic,” Bill Nye said. “That’s why I’m partnering with The Coca-Cola Co. to show the science behind the process of recycling and how we can continue to address the global plastic waste crisis together.”
Produced for The Coca-Cola Co. by Mackinnon & Saunders, the animators and puppeteers behind “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “Corpse Bride,” the film features an animated version of Nye, who explains the end-to-end recycling process. As Nye narrates the process, the content takes viewers on the circular journey of a plastic bottle, starting from the time it’s placed in a recycling bin to it coming back on the shelf as a 100 percent recycled bottle.
While about 59 percent of Americans have access to curbside recycling, 27 percent of plastic bottles are currently recycled in the U.S. One of the company’s goals as part of its World Without Waste sustainable packaging initiative is to collect and recycle a bottle or can for every one it sells by 2030.
The company is also committed to making 100 percent of its packaging recyclable by 2025 and using at least 50 percent recycled material in its packaging by 2030. This new film highlights that recycling is critical to “closing the loop” – using and reusing the materials in plastic bottles again and again.
“We recognize our responsibility to help address the world’s plastic waste crisis and to help create a closed loop economy, but we can’t do it alone,” said Christine Yeager, director of sustainability at The Coca-Cola Co. North America.
“And who better than Bill Nye to help inspire everyone to understand, think, feel and behave differently about recycling. Still, there’s much more that needs to be done – which is why we’re also advocating for well-designed collection policy, funding infrastructure and creating greater economic demand for recycled content. But Step One is collecting and recycling our bottles.”
The company says the approach to the film was not just about visualizing this process, but to reflect the use of recycled materials throughout. Beyond the recycled puppet of Nye, packaging materials from Coca-Cola packaging, including plastic bottles, labels and cardboard were incorporated into every aspect of the short. Trees were made by reusing Sprite labels and conveyor belts designed from recyclable cardboard.
Fans can watch the World Without Waste film at coca-colacompany.com.
