Coca-Cola Introduces Bottle-Free Vending Machines In Japan

Photo 70295749 © Jannoon028 | Dreamstime.com

For the sake of the environment, Coca-Cola is forgoing its hourglass-shaped semantics in Japan, where it has launched bottleless vending machines to eliminate plastic waste. 

The equipment, called the Bon Aqua Water Bar, is being tested at Universal Studios Japan. It only dispenses water, albeit in five options: cold, room temperature, and hot still water, as well as strong/mild carbonated water, SoraNews24 reports.

To collect beverages, the general public will have to bring their own bottles. A rinser is at hand for users to wash their bottles before use, though the machine also dispenses reusable ones.

Coca-Cola Japan is considering adding more types of water to the machines but will skip sweet drinks to prevent cross-contamination.

Image via Coca-Cola Japan

With drink vending machines being an extremely common sight in Japan, the use of bottleless machines could help the Coca-Cola Company achieve its global commitment to make 25% of its packaging reusable by 2030.

The company’s Japanese arm hopes to install 500 of the vending machines across the nation by 2025. A few others are already available in the staff cafeterias of insulated bottle manufacturer Tiger Corp.

[via Nikkei Asia and SoraNews24, images via various sources]