Coca-Cola launches Hong Kong’s first ‘Recycle Bar’ to promote recycling of beverage packaging
To demonstrate that recycled PET bottles can be given a new life – again and again – thus helping to foster recycling habits of the public, The Coca-Cola Company in Hong Kong joins hands with the City Plaza in launching Hong Kong’s first ever ‘Recycle Bar’, in response to World Environment Day on June 5.
The “Recycle Bar” opened on June 2 and runs through June 11. Decorated with more than 30 pieces of bar furniture made out of 18,000 plastic bottles by 3D-printing, and with a collection of rPET turned everyday items that is exhibited on spot, the ‘Recycle Bar’ aims to raise public awareness about proper collection and recycling of used resources (eg plastic bottles) to minimise carbon footprint. Visitors are encouraged to recycle used PET bottles for redemption of free beverages and rPET-made souvenirs.
To showcase its endless possibilities, The Coca-Cola Company in Hong Kong has transformed 18,000 recycled PET bottles into bar furniture like bar counter, bar stools, tables and chairs, which are all locally produced. After the exhibition, the furniture will be reused at an ‘Recycling Academy’ experience centre, which is also part of The Coca-Cola Company’s public education efforts.
Apart from rPET furniture, a collection of rPET accessories from the US, Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong market are also exhibited in the “Recycle Bar”, showing consumers what can be achieved if the community starts to recycle PET bottles together.
The Recycle Bar is also designed to be an educational exhibition for recycling as it unveils the procedures of PET recycling inside a recycling facility, showing consumers how a used bottle can become a brand-new beverage container for new drinks in a plastic recycling ‘loop’.
Consumers are also invited to experience one of the recycling procedures by shredding PET bottles in the ‘Recycle Bar’. Consumers may also learn more about proper recycling of beverage packaging.
“In addressing environmental issues, we believe everyone should be accounted for and be accountable. Through public displays like Recycle Bar, as well as other roadshows and workshops that provide consumers with knowledge and experience in PET bottle recycling, we invite Hong Kong people to get inspired through seeing how used PET bottles can be given a new life – again and again – if returned and recycled properly. We encourage our consumers to become aware of their recycling habits – and to change them if necessary – thus partnering with us in helping to build a World Without Waste,” said Marella Canepa Risso, franchise operations director, Hong Kong and Macau, The Coca-Cola Company.
Canepa Risso continued: “This effort echoes Bonaqua’s long-time commitment to sustainable solutions and inspiring more consumers to adopt sustainable lifestyle. The locally produced Bonaqua Mineralized Water (2L or below) already uses 100% rPET for production, with its bottle 52.8% lighter than conventional PET bottles. We also launched label-less bottles in the Hong Kong and Taiwan markets over the past couple of years in order to further reduce the use of plastics and increase the bottles’ recyclability.”
