Expansion Management

That Bottle Used to Be A Plant

Nov. 21, 2009

Coca Cola's new bottles are composed of a new PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) plastic that was once a plant.

This is the next generation of PET that is now 100% recyclable with a smaller carbon footprint, when measured from the growing of the plant materials through to the production of the resin, that the traditional PET.

PlantBottle packaging is currently made through a process that turns sugar cane and molasses, a by-product of sugar production, into a key component for PET plastic. The sugar cane being used comes from predominantly rain-fed crops that were processed into ethanol, not refined sugar.

The company is aiming to eventually use non-food, plant-based waste, such as wood chips or wheat stalks, to produce recyclable PET plastic bottles.

"Coca-Cola is currently sourcing raw materials for its PlantBottle from suppliers in Brazil, where third parties have verified that best-in-class agricultural practices are the norm," said Dr. Jason Clay, Senior Vice President of Market Transformation for WWF.

Coca-Cola has set a goal of producing 2 billion of these special PET plastic bottles by the end of 2010.

The PlantBottle packaging in now available in Denmark and beginning next month will be available in Western Canada (just in time for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.)
It will also show up in select markets in Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko Blog | Senior Editor

Focus: Expansion Management & the Biotech & Life Sciences Industries

Email: [email protected]

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Senior Editor Adrienne Selko manages IndustryWeek’s Expansion Management, delivering ideas and information about how successful manufacturers leverage location to gain competitive advantage. She explores the strategies behind why companies located their headquarters, research institutes, factories, warehouse and distribution centers and other facilities where they did, and how they benefit from the decision.

Adrienne is also the editorial coordinator of the IndustryWeek Expansion Management Roundtable events, which unites economic development professionals to network and discuss the latest trends in site location.

As well, Adrienne tells the stories of successful companies in the biotechnology and life sciences industries.

In the past, Adrienne has managed IndustryWeek’s award-winning website, overseeing eNewletters, webinars, and contributed content. Before joining the staff, Adrienne was managing editor of corporate publications at a large regional financial institution. She also ran a public relations and marketing company that published a best-selling healthcare book.

Adrienne received a bachelor’s of business administration from the University of Michigan and is especially interested in wellness and natural health.