Coca-Cola Partners with Exchange for Change on Accessible Reverse Vending Trial

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners is teaming up with Exchange for Change and Special Olympics Great Britain to test accessible reverse vending machines during the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games in Birmingham, England. The trial, which will take place from August 27-30 at Alexander Stadium, aims to examine how athletes with intellectual disabilities, spectators, volunteers, and caregivers interact with the machines and understand instructions related to the UK's planned Deposit Return Scheme.

The Deposit Return Scheme is scheduled to launch in October 2027. The trial is part of a larger project that builds on previous research by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Exchange for Change into reverse vending technology. This research aims to help develop accessibility guidance for the national deposit program.

During the trial, athletes with intellectual disabilities were consulted on the artwork and instructions used on the machines. Exchange for Change will collect feedback to identify accessibility barriers and potential improvements before the national program begins. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners has agreed to donate 20 British pence (about 27 cents U.S.) to Special Olympics GB for each eligible beverage container returned.

More than 1,200 athletes with intellectual disabilities are expected to compete in 15 sports during the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games, which is the organization's first national summer games since 2017. The event will help test the accessibility of reverse vending machines before their introduction nationwide under the Deposit Return Scheme.