The Standard Mineral Water Bottle: A Design Classic with a "Pearl Necklace"
News News blog
For more than 50 years, the standard mineral water bottle with its characteristic pearls around the neck has been a staple in German households. On August 8, 1969, the uniform reusable bottle for mineral water was introduced by the Cooperative of German Springs (GDB). Since then, the 0.7-liter glass bottle with a screw cap has established itself as the standard for carbonated refreshment drinks.
The Path to the Uniform Bottle
Before the standard mineral water bottle, mineral springs filled their water in various types of bottles, often with company names burned into them. This required elaborate sorting and the exchange of empties between the manufacturers. In addition, the bottles with swing-top closures had to be sealed by hand.
To improve this time-consuming and costly process, the GDB commissioned industrial designer Günter Kupetz in 1969 to design a new bottle. The result was the standard mineral water bottle with a screw cap that could be filled by machine. Its design with a waist and pearls ensures good grip and symbolizes sparkling refreshment.
Success Story of the Pearl Bottle
The new bottle was extremely well received by consumers and helped mineral water rise to become the most popular refreshment drink. At the same time, it brought economic benefits to the springs: As a nationwide reusable pool, it could be returned and reused everywhere, regardless of the filling location. This increased the circulation frequency and efficiency.
A standard mineral water bottle can be filled up to 50 times before it is sorted out and melted down. Since its introduction, well over 5 billion bottles have been produced. Even though lighter PET bottles have been on the market since 1996, the 0.7-liter glass bottle holds its own. Its market share has even recently increased again.
Award-Winning Design
In 2019, the "pearl bottle" was honored with the German Design Award in Gold. The jury praised the perfect combination of characteristic shape and functionality that has made it one of the most successful glass packaging worldwide.
The standard mineral water bottle has also been featured on a postage stamp. It is a prime example of German engineering and has proven itself as a sustainable reusable system. On its 50th birthday, this design classic deserves recognition for its performance - may it continue to pearl and sparkle for many decades to come.
