The Coca-Cola Company Introduces Innovative Bottle Made From Renewable, Recyclable, Plant-Based Plastic
Corporate, May 14, 2009
ATLANTA - The Coca-Cola Company unveiled today a new plastic bottle made partially from plants. The "PlantBottle™" is fully recyclable, has a lower reliance on a non-renewable resource, and reduces carbon emissions, compared with petroleum-based PET plastic bottles. Traditional PET bottles are made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. The new bottle is made from a blend of petroleum-based materials and up to 30 percent plant-based materials.
The "PlantBottle™" is currently made through an innovative process that turns sugar cane and molasses, a by-product of sugar production, into a key component for PET plastic. Coca-Cola is also exploring the use of other plant materials for future generations of the "PlantBottle™." Manufacturing the new plastic bottle is more environmentally efficient as well. A life-cycle analysis conducted by Imperial College London indicates the "PlantBottle™" with 30 percent plant-base material reduces carbon emissions by up to 25 percent, compared with petroleum-based PET.
And this is from an editorial article on the PlantBottle:
Can the PlantBottle Save the Bottled Water Industry?
The PlantBottle is undoubtedly a worthwhile innovation, as it reduces carbon emissions by up to 25% compared to petroleum-based bottles. That's a drastic cut in emissions considering the millions of Dasani bottles manufactured each year. Dasani's new bottle doesn't change the fact that bottled water uses 2,000 times the amount of energy in production as tap water. And ultimately, Dasani is still just tap water in a bottle. Still, nothing beats the convenience of grabbing a bottle of water in the airport or on the street. As long as the bottled water industry still exists, better that it uses green bottles instead of purely petroleum-based ones.
Gene Dempsey, City Forester
Environmental Services
Office - (954) 828-7704 Fax - (954) 828-7897
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