QR Codes Celebrate Plant Bottle

Heinz Ketchup placed QR codes on its restaurant bottles to celebrate the first recyclable PET plastic bottle using PlantBottle(TM) technology.  The QR code will take scanners to a mobile site where Heinz invites them to join its trivia game and sweepstakes.
 
The “Guess What We Just Planted” trivia gives consumers a chance to win one of 57 eco-friendly prizes by simply answering a green knowledge question.  The grand prize is a hybrid or electric car.  Consumers can also win a family eco-vacation to Costa Rica.
 

 
According to Heinz’s press release, it is leveraging the innovative packaging as part of its industry-first strategic partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, which is the one that developed this breakthrough PlantBottle™ packaging technology.  The PlantBottle plastic, which is made from up to 30% renewable sugar cane material, looks, feels and functions just like traditional PET plastic and is 100% recyclable.  In the biggest change to Heinz’s iconic ketchup bottles since plastic bottles were first introduced in 1983, all 20-ounce bottles in both retail stores and in restaurants are now made from PlantBottle packaging.
 
Coca Cola said that the PlantBottle™ eliminated around 30K metric tons of carbon dioxide from their PET plastic bottles in 2010.
 
The sweepstakes will end September 30, 2011.  Consumers who do not have smartphones and are unable to scan the QR codes can also join the contest and get the chance to win any of the prizes.  They can just type in the word “PLANT”, send it to the number they’ll see on the back of the Heinz(R) Ketchup bottle (57000), and wait for a return message indicating instructions on how to enter.  Or they can go directly to the website – http://www.HeinzKetchup.com/plant-bottle — and play the game and join in.
 
Heinz’s application of the QR code is a great example of how using cutting edge technology can be multi-purpose.  In this case, it serves to attract consumers through the novelty of QR codes, to educate them about green ways, to engage them through games and rewards, and to promote an environment-friendly cause.