Suntory Group has developed a prototype PET bottle made from 100% plant-based materials, excluding the cap and label.
The milestone follows a nearly decade-long partnership with sustainable technology company Anellotech.
The bottle was developed using Anellotech’s new technology, a plant-based paraxylene derived from wood chips, which has been converted to plant-based terephthalic acid (PTA).
Mono ethylene glycol (MEG) is the other raw material used to produce PET, and the prototype bottle has been developed with a plant-based MEG made from molasses.
Tsunehiko Yokoi, executive officer of Suntory Monozukuri Expert, said: “The significance of this technology is that the PTA is produced from non-food biomass to avoid competition with the food chain, while MEG is also derived from non-food-grade feedstock”.
The prototype has been produced for the company’s Orangina brand in Europe and its Suntory Tennensui bottled mineral water brand in Japan.
Suntory says that the prototype is estimated to have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared with a petroleum-derived virgin bottle, and the company aims to commercialise the fully recyclable plant-based bottle ‘as soon as possible’.
The innovation supports Suntory’s ambition to eliminate its use of petroleum-derived virgin PET plastic bottles globally by transitioning to 100% recycled or plant-based PET bottles by 2030.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2022
World Beverage Innovation Awards – NOW OPEN FOR ENTRIES!
The awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the global beverage industry. Don’t miss out on having your innovations recognised on a global scale.
Deadline for entries 23 July – enter now!
Don’t get left behind
Start your free Foodbev magazine trial today and join thousands of fellow industry professionals in receiving food and drink trends direct to our business.
Click here to start your free trial
Your privacy We use small files known as ‘cookies’ to enhance your experience of the FoodBev website and analyse site-traffic. Read about how we use cookies or how you may control them in our updated privacy policy and cookie policy. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies. Click the ‘OKAY‘ button at the top right of this panel to accept or click here for more information.