SKI & Returnable Glass Bottles: A Sustainable Soda Tradition

As more consumers search for sustainable beverages, eco-friendly drinks, and alternatives to plastic packaging, one longtime tradition continues to prove its value: SKI in returnable glass bottles.

At Excel Bottling Company, sustainability is not a new initiative, it’s been part of the process for generations.

Founded in 1936 in Breese, Illinois, Excel remains a family-owned soda company and one of the last independent soft drink bottlers in the United States. Since introducing SKI Citrus Soda in 1961, the company has helped make the brand a staple across Southern Illinois and the greater St. Louis region, known for its bold citrus flavor and real sugar formula.

 

What Makes SKI in Returnable Glass Bottles Different?

What sets SKI apart isn’t just its flavor—it’s the full experience. Made with real sugar and known for its crisp citrus taste, SKI has built a loyal following across multiple generations of soda drinkers.

Beyond taste, packaging is part of the story. While much of the soft drink industry shifted to plastic packaging decades ago, SKI has continued to be bottled in glass through Excel Bottling, keeping a traditional and more sustainable approach alive.

The Sustainability of Returnable Glass Bottles

For decades, Excel has relied on returnable glass bottles, a system that was once standard across the beverage industry. Customers pay a small deposit, return their empty bottles, and those same bottles are washed, sanitized, and refilled many times before eventually being recycled.

This closed-loop system helps reduce waste and keeps materials in use longer—an increasingly important advantage today.

In the United States, an estimated 127 billion plastic beverage bottles are used each year. While SKI is available in recyclable plastic packaging to meet modern convenience, the returnable glass system continues to demonstrate how reuse can play a meaningful role in reducing packaging waste.

 

A Local Tradition at Excel Bottling Company

At Excel Bottling’s Breese, Illinois plant, the process comes full circle. Customers still return their bottles, pick up fresh SKI, and take part in a tradition that has been passed down for generations.

It’s more than simply buying soda—it’s participating in a system that values quality, sustainability, and community.

In a world increasingly focused on convenience and disposable packaging, SKI in returnable glass bottles proves that doing things the right way can still stand the test of time.

Love SKI?

There’s nothing quite like the crisp, refreshing taste of SKI Citrus Soda. Find SKI near you or stock up online and experience a soda tradition that has been refreshing the Midwest for generations.