Coca-Cola strengthens reusable glass bottles for the retail trade

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Germany (CCEP DE) is expanding its beverage portfolio in 1-litre returnable glass bottles by five beverage brands: Fanta, Sprite, mezzo mix, ViO BiO Limo and Fuze Tea. The launch is scheduled to start in September 2023. This follows on from the beverage company's successful launch of 1-litre returnable glass bottles for Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar in 2019. In addition, CCEP DE is simplifying the beverage filling of returnable bulk containers with immediate effect by introducing a new, uniform bottle design for both 1-litre glass and PET bottles. This will increase the production capacity for these packages in the future.

Creating additional growth impulses for the trade
"Carbonated soft drinks in returnable glass bottles are becoming increasingly popular and reach significantly more households than two years ago. Growth has been particularly strong recently in large glass containers in this category," says Florian von Salzen, Managing Director Commercial at CCEP DE. "With our expanded beverage portfolio in the 1-litre glass bottle, we want to tap growth potential in all categories - in carbonated soft drinks as well as organic lemonades and iced tea." The 1-litre glass mixing crate is also intended to contribute to this: in future, the various beverages can be mixed in it, just as has been possible for decades with 1-litre PET returnable bottles.

Simplified filling for higher production capacity
In order to position returnable bottles even better for the future, CCEP DE is significantly simplifying the filling of PET and glass containers. To this end, the beverage company is halving the number of bottle shapes: For all beverages in 1-litre reusable containers, a new, uniform bottle shape will be introduced for PET and glass respectively. "We want to continue to grow with reusable large containers in the trade. That's why we decided to simplify our refillable filling and increase our production capacities in this way," says von Salzen.

New design for 1-litre PET returnable bottle for the first time since its introduction
The change is particularly significant for the 1-litre PET returnable bottle, into which CCEP DE fills a large variety of different beverage types: The bottle shape of the high-volume trade market classic is getting a new design for the first time since its introduction some 30 years ago. The changeover may take several years, depending on the container.

Millions invested: Reusable remains important
Reusable packaging remains important in the packaging mix at CCEP DE. In total, around 250 million euros have been invested in reusable filling in the last five years (2018 to 2022): among other things, in two new glass reusable filling lines, new reusable containers such as the 0.4-litre glass reusable bottle for classics such as Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite, as well as in the expansion of the reusable bottle pool and in new reusable crates. More than 100 million euros in investments are planned for 2023, a large part for the bottle and crate pool. Around 40 million euros are currently being invested in a new refillable glass bottling plant in Lüneburg. In addition, the re-commissioning of an existing returnable PET line in Bad Neuenahr is planned for a good 15 million euros. Both plants are scheduled to go into operation in 2024.