This effort to commercialise a plastic bottle made entirely from plants builds on the company’s ground-breaking introduction and roll-out of its first generation PlantBottle package which was the first ever recyclable PET beverage bottle made partially from plants. Since introduced in 2009, the company has already distributed more than 10 billion PlantBottle packages in 20 countries worldwide.
Agreements with Virent, Gevo and Avantium develop plant-based alternatives to materials traditionally made from fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources, were signed following an in-depth two year analysis of different technologies by The Coca-Cola Company’s research and development team and technical advisory board.
Rick Frazier, VP, commercial product supply, The Coca-Cola Company, said: “While the technology to make bio-based materials in a lab has been available for years, we believe Virent, Gevo and Avantium are companies that possess technologies that have high potential for creating them on a global commercial scale within the next few years. This is a significant R&D investment in packaging innovation and is the next step toward our vision of creating all of our plastic packaging from responsibly sourced plant-based materials.”
Agreements with these three companies will help The Coca-Cola Company support its long-term commitments through sustainable practices in sourcing and packaging supply. While Virent, Gevo and Avantium will follow their own route to make bio-based materials, all materials will be developed in line with Company and industry recycling requirements.
The Coca-Cola Company’s first generation PlantBottle packaging is the only fully recyclable PET bottle made with up to 30% plant-based material available today. PlantBottle packaging makes a difference by reducing our dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels and minimising the carbon impact of PET plastic. It is estimated the use of PlantBottle packaging in the first two years alone has helped save the equivalent annual emissions of more than 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
Source: The Coca-Cola Company
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024