Today we celebrate America Recycles Day! America’s beverage companies pride themselves on being leaders in helping protect our planet. It’s something we’ll never stop pushing to improve.

Environmental sustainability is a core element in our history of innovation. America’s leading beverage companies have made significant progress in diverting 100 percent of their waste from landfills. There are now 15 plants that have achieved “zero waste,” while several other plants are close to eliminating all facilities waste as well.

In fact, the current level of industry waste diversion exceeds the 90 percent rate of waste diversion that some environmental organizations view as meeting the definition of “zero waste.” The beverage companies’ aim however is to eliminate waste to landfill from all its U.S. production facilities.

“Beverage companies have always been leaders in the development of new and innovative ways to reduce industry impact on the environment,” said Susan Neely, American Beverage Association president and CEO. “We’re increasing water efficiency at bottling plants, we’re reducing emissions from our truck fleets and we are recycling more and wasting less.”

Among our latest innovations, we are cutting down on energy and materials usage by making product packaging lighter, reusing transportation packaging and implementing high efficiency refrigeration technology. All in order to protect the environment.

To learn more about how the beverage industry is helping protect our planet, visit InnovationNaturally.org