The Coca Cola bottle is one of the most recognized containers in the world.
When you think of Coca-Cola, you undoubtedly picture the curved shape of the Contour bottle. Product of the imagination of Alexander Samuelson, the design was intended to be inimitable and recognizable even in the dark, patented in 1915, has been recreated in the most environmentally-friendly way possible: Verallia has purchased most of Coca-Cola’s stock of returnable bottles to melt them in their ovens and turn them into new containers, inspired by the original model. It’s a case of truly sustainable material recovery.
Verallia is bringing back the original bottle of the world’s trendiest soft drink, in tune with modern times. It does so all thanks to recycling. The company has recently acquired the old stock of returnable Coca-Cola bottles, which have been melted down and turned into cullet. These are then used to produce new Contour containers.
The bottles are also lighter, which makes it possible to produce 1.2 new bottles for every recycled unit, saving both energy and raw materials. In addition, the capacity of the bottle has also increased from 200 ml of Coca Cola to 237 ml, thus further reducing the weight of the container per liter of soft drink.
This initiative is an example of how glass manufacturing is becoming more and more committed to sustainable development. This activity constitutes a circular economic model, based on the recycling of products to fight against the depletion of natural resources. Not only does it reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption, it also generates quality employment and social development at the same time.
The strategy seeks to promote the very elements that have made Coca-Cola a universal icon.