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
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Note to editors:
Terminology:
PET: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) is a general-purpose thermoplastic polymer. Polyester resins are known for their excellent combination of properties such as mechanical, thermal, chemical resistance as well as dimensional stability. PET is one of the most recycled thermoplastics and has the number “1” as its recycling symbol. Recycled PET can be converted to fibres, fabrics, sheets for packaging and manufacturing automotive parts. PET plastic bottles are destined for more than spending the rest of time in landfill. When recycled, PET plastic bottles are turned into many new and useful products, like fibrefill for duvets and pillows, PET trays for fruit, geotextiles, and even brand new bottles.
Recycle: convert (waste) into reusable material
PETCO: South African PET Recycling Company
World Without Waste: The Coca-Cola Company’s vision to recycle the equivalent of every bottle or can that it produces in a particular market by 2030
About CCBSA
Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) is a proudly South African company which began operating as a legal entity in July 2016, after the merger of six non-alcoholic ready to drink bottling operations. We employ over 7000 people at 13 manufacturing facilities across the country. As a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) and a bottler for The Coca-Cola Company, our vision is to refresh Africa every day and make our continent a better place for all. We manufacture and distribute Coca-Cola beverages that make life’s everyday moments more enjoyable, while doing business the right way. The result is shared opportunity for our customers, our employees, our communities, and our shareholders. We conduct our business ethically, transparently, and conscientiously. We espouse an inclusive business culture to reflect our African identity. We accelerate sustainable, profitable revenue growth across all categories and offer an innovative portfolio of products that respond to customer needs and consumer preferences. Profitability is important, but not at any cost. People matter. Our planet matters. We do business the right way by following our values and partnering for solutions that benefit us all.
For more information contact:
Pinky Lebitso
Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability Manager
plebitso@ccbagroup.com
+27 082 385 8324
