Return to Reuse – The Journey of Returnable Glass Bottles in Hong Kong

Since 1965, Swire Coca-Cola HK has been producing glass-bottled beverages in Hong Kong. After more than half a century, the iconic “Coca-Cola” glass bottle has become a nostalgic collective memory for Hongkongers: fizzy, perfectly cold, and utterly iconic.

Keeping pace with the times, Swire Coca-Cola HK introduced an optimised version of the returnable glass bottle (RGB) to the market in 2022. The new bottle comprises 60% recycled glass material; and while it is one-third lighter than before, the serving size has increased by 30% to 250ml. The newly-designed bottle is transparent to enhance its recyclability, in line with the group's sustainability philosophy.

In February this year, Swire Coca-Cola HK organised a Market Impact Team specifically for special sales events. Over 100 colleagues from different divisions were recruited to visit more than 630 restaurants and dining locations across Hong Kong. Working together, they intensified the promotion of the sustainability aspirations of RGB beverages and enhanced their execution in the market.

Connie Yeung, General Manager of Swire Coca-Cola HK also helped by posting eye-catching promotional posters in restaurants to create awareness and generate interest in our RGB beverages.

Colleagues updated the pricing information on our promotional posters.

The Market Impact Team collaborated with General Trade outlets to enhance in-store product execution.

Our sales team organised the arrangement of beverages in the cooler. By strategically placing our products, we enhanced visibility and ensured that customers could easily access their favourite RGB drinks.

To improve the efficiency of cleaning and refilling, the product name is no longer being engraved on the glass bottles; instead, recyclable labels are being used as a substitute. Once used, glass bottles are collected and sent to the Sha Tin bottling plant for cleaning and disinfection. After refilling and adding labels, they are relaunched in the market. The new RGB is expected to be reused up to 15 times before being sent for recycling to divert packaging waste from landfills.

In addition, the design of the red classic crates has also been changed from the original 24-bottle crates to 12-bottle crates. This change makes the crates easier to move around and stack, thereby saving storage space.

Now, let's look back at the journey of RGB beverages in Hong Kong:

1965

Swire Coca-Cola HK begins producing glass-bottled beverages in Hong Kong – over half a century ago!

2021

The previous glass bottle production line, which served for over 40 years, was officially retired (left). Its successor was launched to enhance productivity (right).

2022

RGB Coca-Cola beverages were launched with a fresh look, including Coca-Cola®, Coca-Cola® No Sugar, Sprite® Lemon-Lime, Fanta® Orange, and Schweppes® Cream Soda and Soda Water.

2023

Mineralised water in RGB form was introduced in the hotel and Business to Business (B2B) sector.

2023

Swire Coca-Cola HK launched the Coke&Go smart vending cooler, which has made significant strides in promoting sustainability by offering RGB beverages, tailored for ease of use in settings ranging from office pantries to gym corners.

Classic Contour Design of Coca-Cola:
In addition to a refreshing and delightful experience, Coca-Cola is best known for its iconic curved glass bottle. However, bottles used in the very beginning were simple and straight-sided. In a bid to thwart the efforts of copycats, the Coca-Cola Company designed the now-famous contour bottle, which was introduced in 1916.The iconic Coca‑Cola bottle was inspired by the curves and grooves of the gourd-shaped cocoa bean, an ingredient the designers originally thought was in the product. It has now become a timeless symbol of Coca-Cola.