From the moment of their introduction to the market with the re-launching of Club Colombia in October 2006, the Super Returnable bottles have proven to be environmentally-friendly, as their efficiency implies the reduced need to replace them.
The technical processes to which the Super Returnable bottles are subjected to avoid wear and improve their efficiency were enhanced, and their new shape ensures the reduction of friction during transportation – this constitutes the main cause of deterioration -. These changes imply a longer useful life of the bottle, because these Super Returnable bottles can last 44 times as much with the same level of wear, compared with the former bottles that used to last 20 cycles.
Once the scuffing source analyses were completed, action plans were established and developed to protect the bottles against the caustic corrosion to which they are subjected during the washing process, and the scuffing resulting from the physical wear mainly experienced in the production lines.
The first of a series of activities implied increasing the quality of the bottles delivered by the vendor. Likewise, an enhancement plan was established to prevent or reduce caustic corrosion by applying an additive to the washing solutions used in the machines that carry out this process, known as anti-scuffing. Finally, systems to apply a protection film that renews the original coating of the glass and increases the lubrication that reduces the abrasion suffered by bottle while transported at the factory and on the market were installed on the outlet of the bottling train washers. This system is known as coating.
The new designs of the bottles are more efficient than the former ones with respect to the grams of glass per millilitre of product, thus fulfilling two objectives: to maintain international quality standards and to protect the environment.
The Super Returnable bottles are part of a project that has a positive impact on the environment and addresses directly the company’s sustainable development priorities. By increasing the useful life of the bottles, the company contributes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the use of utilities and the utilization of fossil fuels used in the bottle manufacturing process.
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