10 May 2023 – CCBSA recently rolled out its innovative 2L returnable also known as a refillable PET bottle (RefPET) in Mangaung in the Free State and Northern Cape. The business will give each household in townships in Mangaung, including Thabanchu and Botshabelo, a 2liter RefPET product to start them on the returnable journey. RefPET is CCBSA’s innovation which is in line with The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) vision of a World without Waste by 2030.
Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa is committed to help collect a bottle or can for every single one it sells by 2030, use 50% recycled content in all packaging and make 25% of its packaging reusable by the same year, while making all its packaging 100% recyclable by 2025.RefPET falls under the second world without waste pillar, namely, design where the company is rethinking packaging and is working hard to ensure that the environment is protected. This refillable PET bottle can be used multiple times so long as it meets the company’s strict quality standards.
Pinky Lebitso, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Manager, stated that by giving each household in identified areas a 2 litre returnable bottle, CCBSA wants to create awareness about their innovative refillable pack and the benefits to consumers and the environment.
“Our primary focus with the RefPET or refillable bottle is to integrate consumers in our value chain and ensure they return the bottle so that we can use it multiple times. Furthermore, they can get a R9 deposit when they return it for the next purchase. One way is to give each household a free 2LRefPET product of their favourite flavour to ensure they are a part of our World without Waste agenda.”
Lebitso also stressed that the product is fresh, is of the highest quality and safe to drink. “We would like to encourage our consumers to contact us when in doubt rather than share voice notes that create alarm in our communities.”
The returnable PET bottles are identifiable by a new paper label, with ‘RETURNABLE’ appearing in green on the front of the bottle. To start the communities and households on this loop, the company will give each household a 2L RefPET sample that they can exchange for a deposit when they buy any of the products available in a 2L RefPET from the local store. The recommended retail price for the 2L Coca-Cola Original Taste – Less Sugar beverage is R16, which excludes a R9 deposit. Other brands, like Coca-Cola No Sugar, Sprite and Fanta, are also available in the new 2L returnable PET plastic bottle at a recommended retail price of R14 excluding the R9 deposit. This means a saving of around R9 per bottle, depending on where a customer purchases their favourite beverage.
Once a bottle is returned to CCBSA, it goes on a looped journey to be cleaned in accordance with Coca-Cola’s stringent measures and requirements, then refilled to start its next lifecycle. When the bottle reaches the end of its useable lifecycle, it joins the recycling value chain and is repurposed into another PET. This RefPET campaign involves Coca-Cola ambassadors in branded clothing visiting house to house educating consumers and issuing free product. On the 19th of May, our ambassadors will be in the following areas;
- Grasslands
- Phase 2,6,7 and 9
- Rocklands
- Heidedal
- Phahameng
- Freedom Square
*Update* On December 2, 2024, The Coca-Cola Company announced updated voluntary environmental goals. Read more here: The Coca-Cola Company Evolves Voluntary Environmental Goals
