Coca‑Cola joins with Merlin Entertainment to offer the chance to win VIP experiences at attractions in exchange for empty plastic bottles

• For a second 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 bottle
• The partnership will continue to incentivise and encourage recycling via reverse vending machines situated at the attractions
• This summer, more machines will be situated at family favourite Merlin attractions, including Alton Towers Resort, LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort and Chessington World of Adventures Resort

26 June 2023, London: This summer, for a second consecutive year, thrill seekers will be in with a chance of winning VIP experiences at some of the UK’s best-known family attractions in exchange for simply bringing along an empty 500ml plastic bottle and recycling it at one of the specifically designed reverse vending machines across Merlin Entertainments UK attractions.

This year, prizes are bigger and better than ever before, including a VIP behind the scenes tour and experience in Sharkbait Reef by SEA LIFE at Alton Towers Resort, a VIP Giraffe Feed Experience at Chessington World of Adventures Resort in connection with the Chessington Conservation Fund, a shark feed at the Deep Sea Adventure at LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort in connection with the SEA LIFE Trust, plus conquering the 127ft climb of one of the UK’s tallest roller-coasters, THE SWARM at THORPE PARK Resort. 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 helping Coca‑Cola on its mission to collect and recycle a bottle for every one it sells by 2030.

Offering guests the chance to be part of the action and enter between the 1st July and 30th September 2023, 28 reverse vending machines will be on site at 11 participating Merlin Entertainments 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. 

The innovative vending machines will have quirky and themed designs relating to each prize on offer. Four extra machines have been installed across a number of attractions since last year to make them easy for guests to find and be in with a chance of winning. 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. 

The partnership continues Coca‑Cola’s ongoing relationship with Merlin Entertainments, which has seen over 100,000 plastic bottles collected via the reverse vending machines since they were first introduced in 2019.

Elodie Peribere, Marketing Director at Coca‑Cola Great Britain: “This summer, reverse vending machines will be located across Merlin attractions which will enable guests to recycle their plastic bottles to ensure they can be used again as well as giving people the chance to win some amazing VIP experiences. We share Merlin’s passion for entertainment and goals for sustainability: all of our bottles are 100% recyclable, and this year we added attached caps across our portfolio to make it easier for people to recycle the whole package and help reduce littering.”

Dare Ilori, Group Sustainability Director, at Merlin said: 

“Plastic waste remains a long-term environmental issue and we are committed to raising awareness and helping establish solutions to address it. As a global company, we'll always seek to reduce our impact on the environment with clear, measurable actions. But now we also encourage our guests to respect their own environments and do the right thing for a sustainable future. We are proud to partner with Coca‑Cola for the second year running on this brilliant initiative and to educate our guests to reduce, return and recycle their plastic and protect our planet.”

The announcement is the latest in a series of actions from Coca‑Cola Great Britain to encourage people to recycle. As part of its global goal, Coca‑Cola aims to help collect and recycle a bottle or can for each one it sells by 2030.

--ENDS--

Notes to Editors: 

For more information about the reverse vending machines please visit www.coca-cola.co.uk/Merlin. 

About Coca‑Cola Great Britain: 

Coca‑Cola Great Britain is responsible for marketing 13 brands and over 55 products to consumers across Great Britain. Led by Coca‑Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognisable brands, our company portfolio includes Fanta, Sprite, Dr Pepper, Oasis, glaceau smartwater, Schweppes and Powerade. The Company is committed to a World Without Waste. All its packaging is recyclable, and it has a global goal to collect and recycle every one of its bottles or cans by 2030.

For more information, visit Coca‑Cola GB Journey at https://www.coca-cola.co.uk or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CocaCola_GB

About Merlin Entertainments: 

Merlin Entertainments is a global leader in location-based, family entertainment. As Europe's Number 1 and the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin operates over 140 attractions, 23 hotels and 6 holiday villages in 24 countries and across 4 continents. Merlin’s purpose is to deliver memorable experiences to its millions of guests around the world, through its iconic brands and multiple attraction formats, and the commitment and passion of its employees.  

Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information and follow on Twitter @MerlinEntsNews.

For enquiries please contact:

Coca‑Cola
MHP Group
cocacola@mhpgroup.com

Merlin Entertainments
Brunswick
+4420 7404 5959
Merlin@brunswickgroup.com

Pictures available on request