coca-cola Bottlers Japan Inc. installed its first "Original Wrapped Vending Machine with PET Bottle Recycle Promotional Design" in the parking area of the Shikoku Aquarium at its opening on June 1, 2020. The vending machine was placed in response to a request by the aquarium's director, Mr. Yoshimasa Matsuzawa, to appeal "how coca-cola Bottlers Japan recycles PET bottles and works on environmental challenges using vending machines". We hope it raises the visitors' "awareness in environmental issues" and inspires them to "take actions".

Protect marine life from plastic litter

Reproducing the rich waterscape of Shikoku and changing time and seasons throughout the facility, Shikoku Aquarium uses the most advanced AI technology to create a fun presentation of marine life and attracts people's attention as a next-generation aquarium. Its opening was postponed to prevent the further spreading of COVID-19 infections. However, after the lifting of the state of emergency and restrictions in cross-prefectural traveling, it finally celebrated the long-awaited opening on June 1, 2020 (Mon).

Aquarium's director, Mr. Matsuzawa, is specialized in the research of sea turtles and serves as the Chairman of an NPO, the Sea Turtle Association of Japan. To embody his wish to "reduce damage to marine life from plastic waste", coca-cola Bottlers Japan designed the vending machine in a way to encourage the visitors to the aquarium to voluntarily "take part in recycling simply by putting empty bottles in a recycle box".

Due to its unique properties of easy processing and high durability at low costs, plastic has long been enriching our lives in various forms; however, some plastic materials flow into the oceans and adversely affect marine life.

As much as 150 million tons of plastic litter has already flowed into the oceans around the world, and marine creatures such as seabirds, seals, and turtles swallow them and end up being hurt or killed (* 1). In Japan, PET bottles account for only 6% of plastic usage (2). The collection rate of PET bottles for recycling is estimated to be 98% or more (3); however, it is believed that a portion of the remaining 2% is discharged into rivers and other bodies of water. To protect marine life, we must strive to thoroughly recycle plastics.

Features of our original wrapping vending machine with PET bottle recycle promotional design

The "original wrapping vending machine with PET bottle recycle promotional design" is the first of its kind by coca-cola Bottlers Japan across the country.

The design derives from a PR video of the coca-cola system's global vision, "World Without Waste", and uses a story, "A PET bottle's wish", from the video. The messages from coca-cola products in the story inspire people to have awareness and take actions to put empty bottles in a recycle box. Both sides of the machine illustrate the Bottle-to-Bottle program in which the coca-cola system promotes the creation of new PET bottles from used PET bottles. The light blue background of the entire machine depicts the calm, beautiful sea of Setouchi.

Global goal to protect the oceans

The "SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)" adopted by the United Nations in 2015 provides a framework for businesses to engage in corporate social responsibility. One of the SDGs is the protection of oceans, and countries and institutions across the world are making efforts towards this end (Goal 14: Life Below Water).

Taking into account a number of SDG topics, we narrowed our focus to three broad platforms: Inclusion, Communities, and Resources. Within these categories, we established the materiality of nine priority issues and have been addressing these social issues. *Please click here for more details on our CSV report.

The coca-cola system in Japan also has committed to its 2030 Packaging Vision including ambitious targets toward a World Without Waste, which focus on the three major pillars of activity, including "design", "collection", and "partners", and enhances the cooperation with leading recycling schemes in Japan so as to address waste issues that are attributable to bottles, with an aim to create a model for plastic recycling in the world.

●For inquiry about the installation of the Original Wrapping Vending Machines with PET Bottle Recycle Promotional Design", please visit:
https://en.ccbji.co.jp/business/

●About World Without Waste
https://www.cocacola.co.jp/sustainability/world-without-waste (Japanese)

（*1）About "marine plastic pollution" (Japanese)

（*2）Our estimate based on the data from Plastic Waste Management Institute and The Council for PET Bottle Recycling (2017)

（*3）The coca-cola Japan's estimate based on a survey of the condition of garbage collection by several local governments