April 22nd marks the 53rd celebration of Earth Day, a day to honor our beautiful planet. Every Earth Day the Illinois Beverage Association (IBA) amplifies our industry’s year-long commitment to protecting our environment through sustainable solutions, reducing our plastic footprint and helping create a more circular economy for recyclables.

The beverage industry has made significant investments that have greatly improved the collection of our 100 percent recyclable plastic bottles. Our Every Bottle Back initiative is shepherding nearly a half-billion dollars to increase the amount of plastic that is collected and remade into new bottles, and The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo – in collaboration with environmental leaders World Wildlife Fund, Closed Loop Partners and The Recycling Partnership – are funding modernizations of recycling infrastructure in local communities.

Earth Day is a reminder that we need to protect and preserve our natural environment year-round. The people of your local beverage companies who work and live in cities and towns throughout Illinois share the goal of clean, healthy and beautiful communities, and our businesses will do their part to keep it that way.

To learn more about Earth Day 2023 visit: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2023/

Rob Nash
Executive Director
Illinois Beverage Association