Coca-Cola Group Agrees to Recycling Campaign Following Hungarian Competition Authority Review

The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) has concluded an investigation into environmental claims made by several Coca-Cola companies, including Coca-Cola HBC Magyarország Ltd and The Coca-Cola Company. The GVH launched a competition investigation in summer 2024 after suspecting that labels and commercial communications for Naturaqua mineral water may have misled consumers about the recyclability of PET bottles.

The authority raised concerns that while the companies demonstrated that their bottles, caps, and labels are technically 100 per cent recyclable, their communications failed to address the environmental impact of the product and its packaging. To address these concerns, the companies submitted a package of commitments, which they expanded in line with GVH recommendations.

The Coca-Cola Group has agreed to launch a nationwide campaign to raise consumer awareness about recycling PET bottles. The campaign will cover bottled beverages beyond mineral water and aims to increase consumer knowledge of practical opportunities for recycling in Hungary.