Coca-Cola and the Japanese Red Cross have rolled out a vending machine that lets users donate money directly to the vending machine. Making use of the fact that Japan has the highest number of vending machines per capita in the world, with about one machine for every twenty- three people, the simple introduction of the “charity button” is aimed at making it easier for users to donate towards the rebuilding of areas hardest hit by the recent disasters in Japan.
Japan Trends, [Link]
I’m utterly in awe of Japanese vending machine culture, and it’s one of the many cultural advances that they possess that I wish were more prevalent here in North America. While advances to the technology to make them more energy-efficient in the aftermath of the March 11th disaster have been appreciated, seeing Coca-Cola give up spaces in the machine (worth hundreds of dollars per week, per machine) to solicit donations for aid/relief is just incredible.
– Chris