History of Pepsi Bottles – A Brief Evolutionary Summery of Pepsi Bottles

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From a small drug store to the world’s largest selling cold drink, Pepsi has changed its shapes and sizes. It had gone through several modifications in its logo, labeling, packaging, and canning. From a small 100 ml bottle to a large 2-liter bottle and from glass bottles to aluminum cans and plastic bottles, Pepsi came into our hands in many sizes and shapes. In the previous article, we studied about the past of Pepsi, turning the pages of the past, and knowing how this beverage is made, today in this post, FoodRavel will take through the process of packaging and canning of this cold drink.

history of pepsi bottles

 The packaging is a very important process as through packaging only, this cold drink all other foods and beverages reach to us every day. We come across several hundreds of products every day, which are packaged in a very beautiful manner. So, the packaging has to be impressive and it should follow all the safety and security standards. The packaging is the process to contain anything to preserve it for a long time. The packaging reflects the information about the products so the customer can know what exactly is the product. We all buy products by reading the qualities, specifications on the packaging. So, let’s have a look at how Pepsi is packaged before it reaches our fridges.

history of pepsi bottles history of pepsi bottles

Pepsi is manufactured by PepsiCo. PepsiCo researches to find out new ways of sustainable packaging. The packaging is a two-step process. One is transport packaging. This is done to avoid any impact from climatic conditions, to provide enough protection against any chemical contamination, also from any theft or physical damages to the product. Transport packaging is done to transport the product over a long distance, in trucks, cargoes, etc. The second type of packaging is most common. It is known as consumer packaging. In this, the product is in close contact with the packaging. The product is purchased and taken along with this packaging.

history of pepsi bottles

The History of Pepsi Bottles

First introduced as Brad’s Drink in 1893 by Caleb Bradham, later named it as Pepsi Cola due to its two key elements, pepsin and kola nuts. Today, Pepsi is one of the world’s most widely recognized and widely celebrated brands. By 2009, it has sold around $108 billion dollars worldwide. Bottling and packaging played a very important role in the sales, marketing, and promotion of this beverage. To understand the process and packaging in a better way, history is divided into three eras.

       From 1905 – 1933: The 6 oz. Bottle Era

In the beginning, the bottles have packaged a bottle weighing 6 ounces. These bottles were made of glass and were manufactured by the local manufacturers of glass bottles. So most of the time, the color and shape of glass bottles were decided by them only. The companies headquarter from 1923 to 1931 was set up in Richmond, Virginia. Around this time, the company decided to manufacture a bottle of standard size, which could be used all over. But there were many difficulties, including financial issues, due to which the idea was never worked upon. Though since the inception, a 6-ounce bottle has been always the standard size. Around that time, the company logo was embossed on the glass itself carrying the franchise name.

From 1934 – 1960: The 12 ounce. Pepsi Bottle Era

6 oz. being the standard size for all soft drinks, Pepsi came up with a 12-ounce bottle in 1934. ­­­­These 12 oz Pepsi bottles were first used as beer bottles in three different colors green, clear and amber colors. Every bottle had the company’s logo on them as the Pepsi Cola trademark. Most of these 12-ounce bottles were perished due to the paper label’s fragility. Thus the beer bottles were every valuable and collectible. The first standardized bottle was introduced in 1940. The bottle had a paper label with the company logo on the body and the neck. The company developed the equipment which could apply to the graphical logo on the bottle. This was done around World War II. Post-war, the whole process was followed throughout the company. These 12-ounce bottles were known as Applied Color Label (ACL) bottles. In 1951, the company made a huge change in the Pepsi Cola spirit logo. The new logo had a slightly changed it was sleek and had a hyphen between both the words. This new logo went to being the standard Pepsi logo from 1951 to 1957.

Another major change in the history of bottling was done in 1958. The major change was in the design of the bottle, which was new and with a modern look. The new design was known as a swirl. It was named so because of the glass, swirling around the neck. The company used this design from 1959 to 1978. This was the last returnable design of the glass bottle. The company introduced nonreturnable bottles around 1960 and became popular as the customer was no longer to bother to return the bottle.

1964 to Present: The Non Refundable Pepsi Bottle Era

The no deposit bottles were though in use around the 1940s, but the company decided to use them into mainstream use in 1964. America had become the most mobile society in history by 1964. This mobility gave rise to the higher safety and convenient containers of soft drinks and the only option was non-returnable bottles. One could dispose of these bottles anywhere. The disposable aluminum bottles became very much famous and dominated their predecessors. (Google books: Encyclopedia of Pepsi-Cola Collectibles). 

Want to know more about Pepsi? Stay tuned in and keep on reading:

 

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39 thoughts on “History of Pepsi Bottles – A Brief Evolutionary Summery of Pepsi Bottles”

  1. Terri Bivens

    My sister, Martha Erwin, was in a Pepsi commercial in the late 50’s or early 60’s. I was really young at the time, so I only have limited memory and a picture. I would love to find out more information about this. I think there are more pictures than just the one that I have. I was hoping that someone can point me in the right direction. She lived in Charleston SC. The picture was take at a lot on King Street. I don’t know how to share the picture on her.

    Reply
  2. lamarr barker

    I found a one liter swirl bottle that is marked as returnable. It has several markings saying one liter. The only logos are just below the neck. There is also a paper bar code. Any idea what era?Thanks

    Reply
  3. lamarr barker

    I have a one liter returnable bottle. Swirl design, logo only appears below neck. Has a paper bar code. Any idea of the ers?

    Reply
  4. Diana

    Hello, we found a 16 oz Pepsi cola bottle. How would we be able to determine the era it belongs to? Thank you.

    Reply
  5. Brian

    Hi. Could someone help me date an old Pepsi bottle and tell me if it’s real or a fake? It’s a Pepsi double dot amber embossed bottle and has Birmingham, Alabama on it. Thank you.

    Reply
  7. Bill Herald

    The bottle history of Pepsi starts with the 6 oz bottle and then skips to 12 oz. I have a 10 oz clear bottle. Do you know in what era those were used?

    Reply
    2. margie

      I too have found a 10 oz.bottle with money back bottle across the top (swirled bottle) and am anxious to know what year it’s from.As far as I’ve been able to find it’s from 1960,but would like confirmation on this.

      Reply
  8. Kathryn Gardner

    I have a round can with a photo on it of a girl with a skateing out fit on – red with white fur trim. She is holding a 1940 pespi bottle. II would like to know for sure what year it was distributed. If you give me an e mail address I can send you a picture of it.
    Thank you

    Reply
  9. Shane Jones

    so in 1960 pepsi started making and encouraging people to start throwing out bottles. The start of 1 time use, I’m sure then, recycling was less common. Even in 2020 it’s not 100% where it should be. People are LAZY>>>>that’s all there is to it. Society needs to END single use everything.

    Reply
  10. alex lockerman

    i have a 6 oz returnable glass bottle with pepsi cola written in the glass with Roanoke on the bottom with no state on it

    does it have any value

    Reply
  11. Rick osborne

    I have 3 Pepsi cola glass bottles 64fl oz half gallon and one Pepsi bottle has a 7up lid on it and another Pepsi bottle has a coca cola lid on it and one coca cola 64floz half gallon and it has a Pepsi lid on it

    Reply
  13. Vault Dweller

    I have a bottle that I can’t find a 2nd of and looking to list it in my eBay store. Hard to sell when I can’t even find a picture of another one or any information of its origin. I’m holding of just in case it’s a gem. Unlikely that it has any significance as it always goes for me. I am sure I’m just missing something obvious or dumb in my research.
    My bottle holds 1 ounce. As an embossed vertical wave same as the 40s style. It’s 2 words PEPSI COLA w/o the hyphen. It’s about 3-3/4” tall. Has the number “9 Bills Milwaukee” as a marking on the bottom. No Pontil, has the vertical pressed line.
    My guess is it’s promotional for samples, maybe at stadiums or large events.? I can’t imagine it was something you could buy off the shelf because it’s small, like stupid small and why I think free sample.
    Any information would be appreciated. I know some bottles sell for over 1k$ and those I can find multiple pictures and information on.

    Reply
  14. Eileen May

    We have an old 16 oz glass bottle that is embossed with Pepsi-Cola on one side with Pepsi on the opposite side. with the numbers 156, 25, and 78 along with a square with a backward L on the bottom. It is clear with a 3/4″ neck, 8″ tall and 2 1/2″ in diameter at the bottom. It is barrel shaped with “No Refill” and “Dispose of Properly” around the top rim. Can you help me with the date, place of manufacture and value?

    Reply
  16. heinz hubbuch

    i have a 10 oz. pepsi cola bottle before registered trademark was stamped on their logo? any idea its worth? i cant find a bottle like it anywhere??

    Reply
  17. Michael Anderson

    My question has been asked a few times about the clear 10 Oz pepsi bottlebut there isn’t an answer. Does that mean you dont have an answer yet? Value.and age….. Thank-you

    Reply
    1. Rajat Kumar

      Hi Michael. I hear you. Sorry that I missed your question. However, I don’t see you asked the question previously. I am not expert in this domain. But you can mail me the pics of the bottle. I will look into it and try to find out.
      Stay happy and healthy.

      Reply
  18. Gary Johnson

    I remember Pepsi bottles (mid-50’s) having the name of a city and state on the back of the bottle. Was this where the bottle itself was made? Tulsa, Oklahoma (I lived in Oklahoma at the time) and New York, New York were the most common, and I think one or two cities in Texas. Whenever a different city was found, it drew a “wow” from all present. How many different cities were listed on bottles of that era (please list them).
    thanks,

    Reply

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