In an article published on June 5, 2015 by the news provider Food Production Daily (FPD), journalist Rachel Arthur reports about a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle made entirely from plant materials created by the Coca-Cola Company. Coca-Cola unveiled its new 100% plant-based bottle – called PlantBottle – at the World Expo in Milan on June 3, 2015. The bottle is fully recyclable and functions in the same way as traditional PET bottles, Arthur writes. The 100% PlantBottle is made by converting natural sugars from plants into the two components monoethylene glycol (MEG) and terephthalic acid needed for PET bottles. Currently, Coca-Cola uses sugarcane and waste from sugarcane manufacturing to create PlantBottle, Arthur explains. Since 2009 Coca-Cola has been using a version of PlantBottle made from fossil-fuel based terephthalic acid and up to 30% plant-based MEG. Brands using this bottle include Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero and Smartwater. According to Arthur, 35 billions of these bottles have been distributed in about 40 countries and Coca-Cola estimates this has saved the equivalent annual emissions of more than 315 000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Concerning the commercial availability of the new 100% plant-based PlantBottle, Coca-Cola has not yet set a time frame, Arthur reports.
Read more
Rachel Arthur (June 5, 2015). „Coca-Cola creates PET bottle made entirely from plants – but when will we see it on shelves?“ Food Production Daily
Plastics News Europe (June 5, 2015). „Coca-Cola unveils 100% plant-based PET bottle.“
The Coca-Cola Company (June 3, 2015). „Coca-Cola produces world’s first PET bottle made entirely from plants.“
Food Packaging Forum (June 11, 2014). Bioplastics.
