This included looking at the ingredients used to make the drink, the manufacture of the drink and its packaging, the impact of distribution and retailing, use of the product by individual consumers and subsequent disposal of the empty bottle or can.The results reveal that a 330ml can of ‘Coca-Cola' sold in Great Britain has a carbon footprint of 170 grams and the same sized can of ‘diet Coke' or ‘Coke Zero' has a footprint of 150 grams. A 330ml glass bottle of ‘Coca-Cola' has a footprint of 360 grams.The research also revealed how packaging accounts for the largest portion of the drink's carbon footprint, between 30 - 70%, depending on the type of container used. However, the research went on to highlight the importance of both using recycled content and of encouraging recycling post use. A combination of these two factors can decrease the overall carbon footprint of a product by up to 60%. Much progress has already been made in maximising recycled content in Coca-Cola Enterprises' packaging. In Great Britain, the Coca-Cola System's aluminium cans contain around 50% recycled content and its glass bottles contain an average of 40% recycled glass. CCE has also set a target for all its plastic (PET) bottles across Great Britain and Europe to contain an average of 25% recycled PET by the end of 2010.Similarly, in partnership with WRAP, the Coca-Cola System is currently rolling out a nationwide series of branded Recycle Zones to encourage consumers to recycle when out and about. Six Recycle Zones have already been successfully launched including at Thorpe Park, Festival Place in Basingstoke and the University of Warwick.

(1) In total, 14 Coca-Cola products were tested, including cans, plastic (PET) and glass bottles.
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