Red Coca-Cola crates pass into history

The time draws near when classic, red Coca-Cola bottle crates will be found only as decorations and decor elements in occasional places - just like it happened to the yellow wooden crates Coca-Cola used in the 50s.

These red glass bottle crates that differ from other plastic crates are disappearing from the market, because since last September, Sinebrychoff has not produced Coca-Cola in high neck bottles after investing in a new glass bottle line. That is also how the crates meant for these bottles have become unnecessary.

- Coca-Cola contacted us and told about their plans to withdraw the crates from the market. I saw the potential in the raw material from these crates, and we did agree on a 2000 crate donation for the use of our design students. Now our 20 students examine the crates as raw material in Experimental Design course, says the lecturer of the course, Anna van der Lei.

In circular economy, it is important to find a solution to how to transform a material easily classified as rubbish into desirable and recognised products. The use of recycled material is future.

- Plastic is not rubbish, but valuable material that can and should be used again. It is great that the design students at Aalto University are examining and considering the possibilities of plastic from our bottle crates as part of their own student project. We will see results later this year, says Communications Manager Théa Natri from Coca-Cola Finland. 

Using different tools and technology, the students examine plastic as a raw material and work a collection of material samples. After this phase, the students choose one of these samples and transform it into a completely new concept. Later this year, all the material samples and the resulting new concept are being displayed in an exhibition presenting new uses for plastic waste.

Further information:
Aalto University Corporate Relations, Pirita Posti, +358 50 3646381, pirita.posti@aalto.fi
Department of Design at Aalto University, Anna van der Lei, +358 503000914, anna.van.der.lei@aalto.fi
Coca‐Cola Finland, Communications Manager Théa Natri, tel. +358 40 528 9777, tnatri@coca‐cola.com