ColaLife by Simon Berry, is a not-for-profit organization that utilizes the extra space in crates filled with bottles of Coca-Cola to distribute life-saving medication to remote villages in developing countries. After volunteering in Africa as an aid worker, the founder and CEO noticed that while such items as oral rehydration solution (ORS), zinc supplements and water purification tablets were often scarce, soda certainly wasn't.
Partnering with packaging company PI Global, ColaLife by Simon Berry created packets that fit perfectly between the necks of the beverage bottles. Berry states, "The unique thing about the Coca-Cola distribution system isn’t the bit from the bottler to the wholesaler, but from the wholesalers onwards. That’s where all these independent microenterprises—guys on bicycles, women putting crates on buses, and so on—take over. That’s the bit we want to get into."
Soda Crate Med Deliveries
ColaLife by Simon Berry Distributes Medication to Rural Regions
Trend Themes
1. Distribution Innovation - Utilizing existing distribution channels to deliver life-saving medication to remote areas.
2. Strategic Partnerships - Collaborating with packaging companies to create innovative solutions for distribution.
3. Sustainable Solutions - Utilizing extra space in crates and existing resources for efficient and impactful distribution.
Industry Implications
1. Pharmaceuticals - Opportunity for pharmaceutical companies to explore alternative distribution methods in remote areas.
2. Beverage - Beverage companies can leverage their distribution networks for social impact initiatives.
3. Packaging - Packaging companies can collaborate with non-profits to create innovative packaging solutions for distribution.