Welcome to the future? Coca-Cola China integrates retail, recycling and AI technology in vending machine
03 Oct 2018 --- The Coca-Cola Company has launched a new vending machine concept in China where consumers can purchase beverages, as well as return and recycle used bottles and cans, marking the first concept equipment to combine beverage sales and packaging recycling by Coca-Cola China. The vending machine also uses AI technology such as facial recognition and sound interaction to provide an interactive experience to the consumers. The technology seeks to balance beverage sales and recycling. Consumers who buy a beverage bottle may receive a reminder along the lines of: “you owe me a bottle, don’t forget to pay back,” via their mobile devices, consumers can also earn credits by recycling more. These credits can be used to send e-vouchers to friends for drinks or to purchase items made from recycled plastic.  Click to Enlarge
when consumers recycle their used products through the right “eye.” The vending machine features two “eyes,” the left “eye” is the exit for purchased beverages and the right “eye” is the entrance for empty bottles to be recycled. The machines “mouth” and “eyebrows” are LED pixels controlled by artificial intelligence, which can change into various expressions. The expressions are also influenced by facial recognition and sound interaction. The application of IoT technology and intelligent big data analysis also provides logistics distribution, operation and customer service support for the operation and distribution department, according to the company. “We envision a system that allows vending machines also to collect used packaging,” explains Dr. Shell Huang, vice president, R&D, Coca-Cola Asia Pacific, which unveiled the innovation at Summer Davos in Tianjin, China. “It will help enhance recycling awareness among consumers and nurture recycling habits." “We look forward to empowering supply chain systems throughout the region, enabling terminal equipment to balance beverage sales and packaging recycling, and improve forward logistics and reverse logistics. The economy; at the same time, it can help consumers to raise recycling awareness, develop recycling habits, and achieve recycling of packaging,” adds Huang. Innovations such as the VenCycling machine support The Coca-Cola Company’s World Without Waste vision to help collect and recycle the equivalent of 100 percent of its packaging by 2030.  Click to Enlarge
world discussed“Shaping a World Without Waste through Innovation” at the Global Shapers Eventduring Summer Davos. “VenCycling is an innovation for the company to achieve our global vision for sustainable packaging,” says Zhang Jianwei, Vice President of Coca-Cola Greater China and Korea. “We will use our business efficiency to contribute to sustainable development in China.” PackagingInsights has recently reported on Coca-Cola GB's recycling initiative that was rolled out across various UK attractions. The concept being that if consumers recycled a plastic bottle, they would get 50 percent off admission to the attraction. The key aspect that the two vending machines have in common is the of use incentives for recycling. A key component of the typical Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) technology is incentivizing consumers to “do good” through the promise of a reward, money in the case of supermarket DRSs and or credits that can be spent on exciting products in the case of Coca-Cola China's Vencycling. It is hoped that the use of incentives across the globe can drive up recycling rates. By Laxmi Haigh This feature is provided by FoodIngredientsFirst's sister website, PackagingInsights. To contact our editorial team please email us at editorial@cnsmedia.com 
Related ArticlesFood Ingredients News BI Nutraceuticals strengthens Canada presence with Brenntag partnership
15 Feb 2019 --- US-based ingredients supplier BI Nutraceuticals (BI) is partnering with food and nutrition experts Brenntag Canada Inc. to strengthen its reach in Canada. The partnership will allow Brenntag to widen its portfolio to include ingredients that are healthier, natural and on-trend, according to both companies. Food Ingredients News Nestlé highlights sharpened plant-based focus as Starbucks range debuts
14 Feb 2019 --- Swiss giant Nestlé is exploring strategic options for the Herta charcuterie business including a potential sale, as the company reports its full-year results. As a further step in positioning its portfolio towards attractive high-growth categories, the company is looking to potentially divest its cold cuts and meat-based products, in favor of plant-based products to keep pace with current consumer trends. The company continues to pivot its businesses to changing market conditions by unveiling its first coffee lines under the Starbucks name which comes after Nestlé closed a US$7.15 billion licensing deal to market Starbucks Consumer Packaged Goods and Foodservice products globally. Business News IFF reports record-setting sales in “pivotal” Frutarom acquisition year
14 Feb 2019 --- International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) has reported that net sales for the full year totaled US$4 billion, an increase of 17 percent from US$3.4 billion in 2017 driven by mid-single digit growth in both Taste and Scent and the contribution of sales related to Frutarom, the biggest acquisition in IFF’s history. For the year, pricing contributed approximately 2 percentage points to growth for both Taste and Scent. Food Ingredients News iFarm Project secures US$1m investment to boost its automated farming facilities
13 Feb 2019 --- Russian modular automated farms start-up iFarm Project has received a US$1m investment, which will be partly used to expand its reach and fund a pilot project in Europe. Food Ingredients News Adventures in flavor: Coca-Cola launches two new orange vanilla-infused flavors in the US
11 Feb 2019 --- Coca-Cola is launching two new trademark flavors, Orange Vanilla Coke and Orange Vanilla Coke Zero Sugar. The new flavors will be released in the US on 25 February and are the first trademark flavor innovations the company has released in over ten years. The launch follows the introduction of new Diet Coke Blueberry Acai and Strawberry Guava and is proof that Coca-Cola is listening to what consumers want, says the company. The new flavors will be available in 12-oz. cans and 20-oz. PET bottles. |
