Coca-Cola partners with Merlin Entertainments to boost recycling at UK attractions
Coca-Cola has partnered with Merlin Entertainments again to incentivise and encourage recycling through reverse vending machines at attractions nationwide.
Consumers will have the chance to win VIP experiences at some of the UK's best-known family attractions in exchange for bringing along an empty 500ml plastic bottle and recycling it at one of the specifically designed reverse vending machines across Merlin Entertainments UK attractions.
The vending machines will be available across 11 Merlin attractions, including Alton Towers Resort, LegolandWindsor Resort, Thorpe Park Resort, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Warwick Castle, SEA LIFE aquariums in Blackpool, Birmingham, Brighton, and London, The Blackpool Tower, and Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham.
Four extra machines have been installed across several attractions since last year to make them easy for guests to find and be in with a chance of winning special prizes.
Coca-Cola has also been a long-time advocate of a well-designed Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) to boost recycling of drinks containers and reduce litter across the country.
Together with its bottler, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), the organisation has been working with peers in the industry, governments and NGOs for many years to call for an interoperable DRS.
Elodie Peribere, marketing director, Coca-Cola Great Britain, said: "We share Merlin's passion for entertainment, and goals for sustainability. Throughout the summer, guests at Merlin attractions will be able to recycle their plastic bottles using our reverse vending machines. We're excited that, as well as being in with the chance to win some incredible VIP experiences, they'll be helping us with our goal to recycle the equivalent of every can and bottle we produce."
Dare Ilori, group sustainability director, at Merlin said: "Plastic waste is a pressing environmental issue, and at Merlin, we are dedicated to raising awareness, and implementing effective and measurable solutions. Partnering with Coca-Cola for the third consecutive year on this impactful initiative, we are proud to inspire and educate our guests on the importance of reducing, returning and recycling plastic waste. Together, we are committed to fostering a sustainable future and safeguarding our planet. We're delighted to help encourage our guests to recycle their plastic, by rewarding them with the chance to win exciting VIP experiences."
Jo Padwick, senior sustainability manager, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners GB, said: "We are always looking for ways to work innovatively with our partners to deliver our soft drinks more sustainably. The collection and re-use of bottles through initiatives such as these is a significant step forward to supporting a more circular economy and ensuring more of our packaging is collected and prevented from ending up in waste. This comes as we accelerate the use of recycled plastic, with our 500ml bottles now made from 100% rPET."
Article from "PackagingNews"