Although safety is a top priority when it comes to labeling, trends in beverage labeling materials — mainly sustainability — also are greatly impacting labeling equipment. 

Los Angeles-based Gaviña Coffee Co. announced it has recycled more than 2 million used coffee bags, single-serve coffee pods and espresso capsules through its Coffee Bag and Pod Free Recycling Program with global recycling company TerraCycle.

The Coca-Cola Co. announced that two of its biggest brands in North America are taking major steps to support a circular economy for plastic packaging. DASANI is rolling out bottles made from 100% recycled PET plastic (excluding caps and labels), and Sprite is transitioning from green to clear plastic to increase the material’s likelihood of being remade into new beverage bottles. 

The new container from CCL meets ever-increasing demand for sustainability and freshness while honoring the classic shape of a conventional wine bottle.

EMSUR presents a new range of shrink sleeves, ECOEM-Sleeves, which are fully recyclable along with PET bottles.

Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA) announced a $35 million investment with Closed Loop Partners that will create the "Closed Loop Local Recycling Fund," an innovative circular economy initiative to advance new small-scale, modular recycling systems in communities across the United States, it says.

Pepsi, a brand of Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo, launched Pepsi Trash Talk, an interactive sustainability platform aimed at teaching consumers the ins and outs of recycling, with the help of an all-star lineup of trash talking NFL athletes. A series of mini public service announcements (PSAs) feature pro players in all their competitive glory ― taking the trash talk from the field to the recycling bin.