Atlanta’s 2020 graduates to wear caps, gowns made from plastic bottles

Vanessa McCray

At next year’s high school graduation ceremonies, Atlanta seniors will wear, not just taste, the feeling.

Atlanta Public Schools seniors in the class of 2020 will don graduation caps and gowns made out of recycled plastic bottles thanks to an innovative program by Coca-Cola.

The result may be the most uniquely Atlanta graduation gear ever.

The caps and gowns will be made out of plastic bottles collected by the Atlanta-based company. The bottles are broken down into pellets and the material is then woven into fabric made of polyester yarn.

Coca-Cola began collecting plastic bottles this week at its headquarters as part of its Earth Day activities. The goal is to gather 7,000 bottles, enough to make graduation outfits for 200 graduates.

Over the following months, the company plans to hold more collection drives in the Atlanta area until it has enough bottles to make caps and gowns for the entire APS graduation class of 2020. Roughly 2,400 students have graduated from Atlanta high schools in each of the last two years.

Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said Coca-Cola’s donation will help lower the cost of senior fees paid by students’ families.

“It’s a beautiful gesture for giving back to both their hometown schools and the environment,” she said, in a news release issued by Coca-Cola.

Tribune News Service