- For a third consecutive year Coca‑Cola, in partnership with Coca‑Cola Europacific Partners, and Merlin Entertainments are offering the chance to win VIP experiences at some of the UK’s best-known attractions in exchange for empty plastic bottles.
- The partnership will continue to incentivise and encourage recycling via reverse vending machines situated at attractions nationwide.
- This summer, more machines will be situated at family favourite Merlin attractions, including Alton Towers Resort and LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort.
This year, prizes are bigger and better than ever before, including a VIP behind-the-scenes tour of Legend of the Trebuchet and private history tour at Warwick Castle, a Royal Box experience at the Blackpool Tower Circus, plus conquering the 127ft climb of one of the UK’s tallest rollercoasters, The Swarm at Thorpe Park. Families and friends all across the UK will have access to these brilliant prizes by recycling one 500ml drink and will get the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime prize, in exchange for recycling their bottle in the Coca‑Cola machine.
Offering guests the chance to be part of the action between the 1st July and 6th September 2024, the vending machines will be available across 11 Merlin attractions, including Alton Towers Resort, LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, THORPE PARK Resort, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Warwick Castle, SEA LIFE aquariums in Blackpool, Birmingham, Brighton, and London, The Blackpool Tower, and LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Birmingham.
New for 2024, the innovative vending machines have a vibrant new look to make them really stand out as the place to recycle used bottles. Four extra machines have been installed across several attractions since last year to make them easy for guests to find and be in with a chance of winning special prizes. Machines can also be found by asking staff members at the attraction or using the individual attraction’s app, guiding guests through the parks to recycle their bottles and enter the VIP competition via a website printed on the receipt after recycling.
Coca‑Cola has also been a long-time advocate of a well-designed Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) to boost recycling of drinks containers and reduce litter across the country. Together with its bottler, Coca‑Cola Europacific Partners, the organisation has been working with peers in the industry, governments and NGOs for many years to call for an interoperable DRS.
Elodie Peribere, Marketing Director at Coca‑Cola Great Britain, comments: “We share Merlin’s passion for entertainment, and goals for sustainability. Throughout the summer, guests at Merlin attractions will be able to recycle their plastic bottles using our reverse vending machines. We’re excited that, as well as being in with the chance to win some incredible VIP experiences, they’ll be helping us with our goal to recycle the equivalent of every can and bottle we produce.”
Dare Ilori, Group Sustainability Director, at Merlin said: “Plastic waste is a pressing environmental issue, and at Merlin, we are dedicated to raising awareness, and implementing effective and measurable solutions. Partnering with Coca‑Cola for the third consecutive year on this impactful initiative, we are proud to inspire and educate our guests on the importance of reducing, returning and recycling plastic waste. Together, we are committed to fostering a sustainable future and safeguarding our planet. We’re delighted to help encourage our guests to recycle their plastic, by rewarding them with the chance to win exciting VIP experiences."
