1899
Chattanoga, Tennessee. The start of the icon we know now as Coca-Cola™. Joseph Whitehead and Benjamin Thomas negotiated the rights to the bottle in Atlanta, GA as it was previously only available from fountains. Their efforts proved successful, allowing consumers to purchase the long glass bottle with a metal stopper in stores.
1906
The Amber Bottle. This was the first bottle with the proper Coca-Cola™ logo on it; embossed and with a diamond label. However, it was also during this time that the company came across knock-offs and imitator brands such as: 'Noka-Cola', 'Ma Coca-Co', etc.
1915
The First Contour bottle. Due to issues with competitors, Coca-Cola™
decided it's distinct logo was not enough and created the Contour bottle
for 'distinct' packaging. Many glass companies were competing to create this distinct bottle.
Ultimately, the Root Glass company 'won'.
Fun Fact: each bottle weighed more than 1 lb including the drink itself.
1916
The New Contour. Some alterations were made to the bottle shape that originally won. This one was approved for production, creating the iconic bottle we all know now.
1957
The White Label. Stepping away from embossed logos, Coca-Cola took a step into the future. They instead began to print their logo onto the bottle in white color with their unique franchise font.
1961
Wrap Label. With innovations in the ACL(Applied Color Labeling), the company was able to create a fully wrapped label for their bottles. In this design, they added the red background which became a large part of their iconic logo. In 1971, the contour bottle became only the second packaging design in history to be granted a registeredd trademark (™).
1978 / 1993
Plastic > Glass. With the fragility of glass bottles, the introduction of the plastic bottle was revolutionary. Not only was it more durable, it was resealable, and recyclable. Beginning in 1978, the 2 liter bottle was introduced, followed by the smaller 20oz bottle in 1993.
2005
Aluminum. Coca-Cola™ selectively introduced the aluminum bottle. This was part of the Magnificent Five series. This limited-edition series were known for being much lighter and exclusive branding. In 2008, this bottle won the Design Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions festival.
Present, 2025
Coca-Cola. At 110, Coca-Cola's legacy and impact is undeniable. Glass, plastic, aluminum, any form of bottle is well recognized. It is only a matter of time until Coca-Cola's next innovation.