Opening from 2 until 11 June, the "Recycle Bar" is decorated with more than 30 pieces of bar furniture made out of 18,000 plastic bottles by 3D-printing, and with a collection of rPET turned everyday items that is exhibited on spot. Visitors are encouraged to recycle used PET bottles for redemption of free beverages and rPET-made souvenirs.
According to the company, PET is a useful material that can be reused again and again when recycled properly. To showcase its endless possibilities, Coca-Cola has transformed 18,000 recycled PET bottles into bar furniture such as bar counter, bar stools, tables and chairs, which are all locally produced.
After the exhibition, the furniture will be reused at an "Recycling Academy" experience center, which is also part of The Coca-Cola Company's public education efforts. Apart from rPET furniture, rPET can also be "reborn" into everyday accessories. A collection of rPET accessories from the U.S., China and Hong Kong market are also exhibited in the "Recycle Bar", showing consumers what can be achieved if the community starts to recycle PET bottles together.
"Recycle Bar" is also an educational exhibition for recycling as it unveils the procedures of PET recycling inside a recycling facility, showing consumers how a used bottle can become a brand-new beverage container for new drinks in a plastic recycling "loop". Consumers are also invited to experience one of the recycling procedures by shredding PET bottles in the 'Recycle Bar'. Consumers may also learn more about proper recycling of beverage packaging.
Furthermore, consumers may return plastic bottles at the "Recycle Bar", which the organisers can later produce different everyday items. To encourage consumers to establish the habit of recycling, consumers can collect points upon recycling PET bottles, and redeem different kinds of beverages such as Bonaqua mineralised water, which uses 100% rPET for the production of its bottles, as well as other Coca-Cola rPET souvenirs such as jacket, polo shirt and pencil cases.
Moreover, consumers may participate in the DIY planting workshops with rPET over the weekends. Each participant will receive a limited edition rPET flowerpot, which is made out of two recycled PET bottles. They may have a guided private tour at the Recycle Bar, in which they will enjoy a planting lesson with a succulent plant, as well as turning their own rPET flowerpot into a unique art piece. The tutor will also share knowledge about rPET as well as proper recycling.
"In addressing environmental issues, we believe everyone should be accounted for and be accountable. Through public displays like Recycle Bar, as well as other roadshows and workshops that provide consumers with knowledge and experience in PET bottle recycling, we invite Hong Kong people to get inspired through seeing how used PET bottles can be given a new life - again and again - if returned and recycled properly," said Marella Canepa Risso, franchise operations director, Hong Kong and Macau, The Coca-Cola Company.
Meanwhile,Aileen Chan, general manager of Cityplaza, said: "Materials recycling facilities have been set up in our developments to foster a healthy recycling ecosystem. We are happy to support Coca-Cola in launching the Recycle Bar with an aim to foster a healthy recycling culture in Hong Kong. In order to establish a city-wide recycling culture in Hong Kong, it is important for us to enhance public education as well as build up a recycle-friendly city with user-friendly facilities."
