Coca-Cola is said to have misled consumers over its plastic pledge, according to a new documentary by Channel 4.

The investigation, which is set to air tonight at 8 pm has accused the drinks manufacturer of misleading the public over its recyclable bottle scheme.

Coca-Cola, whose portfolio includes popular brands Fanta, Sprite and Coca-Cola range, is understood to sell two billion plastic bottles and cans each year in the UK, representing 65,000 tonnes of single use plastic.

Earlier this year, it launched a ‘Recover and Recycle’ bottle initiative, with the FMCG giant’s website claiming bottles could be back on shelves as “a new bottle in as little as six weeks”.

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Yet the British broadcaster’s documentary accuses the company of lying to the public, as the initiative does not mention eventual deterioration of the bottle and the fact that the recycled product can only be done a finite amount of times.

A spokesperson for Coca-Cola told Grocery Gazette: “We care about the impact of every drink we sell. We’re working to reduce the amount of plastic packaging we use, while helping ensure more of it is collected, recycled, and reused. This includes through our long-standing support for Deposit Return Schemes. We also recognise our responsibility to help protect local water resources. In 2007, we set a goal to replenish all the water used in our finished beverages globally. In 2015 we met this goal and have continued to do so every year since.”

“We believe that consumers deserve clear and accurate information about the products they buy, both to help them make informed choices and to encourage them to sort and recycle packaging after use. Our consumer communications are transparent, and fully comply with all relevant standards.”

The latest investigation follows in the wake of a Coca-Cola bottler calling upon the government to introduce new legislation for a deposit return scheme (DRS), calling Europe the “dirty man of Europe”.

In recent years, Coca-Cola has been flagged as one of the top companies responsible for 70% of branded packaging litter in the UK.

Last July, the business appeared to crackdown on its carbon footprint with a new sustainability fund aimed at investing in new initiatives such as climate-friendly packaging and decarbonisation.