The Can-Bottle

I have terrible news for you.

Back in the mid 1980s, I was surveyed by one of those marketing groups in a shopping mall.

We were asked about this very can/bottle.

I thought it was packaging genius, and enthusiastically supported the concept. I did so for the following reasons:

It still fit in a standard can vending machine, store shelf.

It was resealable; unlike a can, if one can't finish the soda, one can screw the top on and save it for later.

It still fit a "beer huggy," car cup holders, and the indents on ice chests.

It could be cleaned and reused to hold other things: nails, beans, cocktails, marbles, dimes, baking soda, etc.

It was still aluminum and, therefore, completely recyclable.

For many years, I've wondered, off and on, what happened to that brilliant bottle/can (cottle? ban? battle? con?).

I since realized 2 things which probably prevented its use in the USA.

First, American consumers don't like radical changes in items they use regularly.

But second, and more insideous, American consumers buy stuff all the time which they can't use up, eat, drink at a single sitting. Coke would prefer you throw away the remainder in the can. After all, it's only flavored sugar water; it costs them almost nothing to produce. They want you to buy ANOTHER can, not finish later the one you already bought.

I gave up on that can/bottle, although it would have a million uses in my own house (extra gasoline for the motor scooter, powdered sugar shaker, collector of old bacon grease, etc.).

Perhaps it will return to our shores. There are a lot more Asians that Americans; they may adjust their packaging because of that.

BRING BACK THE CATTLE!... or is it the bon?

The Bottle-Can

Group: alt.discuss.internet.sites.weird

Date: Wed, Oct 15, 2003, 11:09pm (MDT-1)
From: (Nvivo)

The Bottle-Can (Taipei Times article)

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