Coca-Cola has revealed it has developed a new bottle made from a mixture of petroleum-based plastic and plant-based materials.
The PlantBottle is manufactured from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), which contains a blend of petroleum-based plastic and 30% plant-based materials.
These plant-based materials currently include sugar cane and molasses, a by-product of sugar production.
The PlantBottle can be recycled alongside existing PET plastic bottles in waste streams currently used and its manufacturing process uses up to 25% less carbon emissions.
Coca-Cola will trial the PlantBottle in North America with Dasani and carbonated drinks brands in select markets later this year and with its Vitaminwater in 2010.
Coca-Cola director of sustainability communications Lisa Manley says the company's aim is to bring to market the bottles made with 100% renewable and recyclable raw materials.
"This first-edition PlantBottle is made partially from plants, so it reduces our dependence on non-renewable resources," she tells Packaging News.
"It is important to note that it is PET. What is unique is that it is PET made partially from plants."
Editor Jim Lunt's Note: In this very recent announcement the facts are not yet clear. While stating the product is a blend of PET with 30% plant based material, the product is stated to be PET.
The origin of the plant based material is also said to be sugar cane or molasses. I believe this is PET made using ethylene glycol from a renewable resource and so not a blend.
Also, I am aware that ethylene glycol is produced commercially from corn dextrose in China and also in India from sugar cane. No doubt the facts of the actual approach being used will appear as this information becomes available.
Source: Advances in Biopolymers Newsletter: Tracking the Evolution of the Biopolymers Industry PUBLISHED BY MOMENTUM PRESS www.momentumpress.net edited by Jim Lunt, of Jim Lunt & Associates LLC
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