Coca-Cola debuts "PlantBottle"

Coca-Cola has become the latest firm to step up its interest in the field of bioplastics, with the unveiling last week of plastic bottles made partially from plants.

Dubbed the PlantBottle, the plastic bottle is made from a blend of petroleum-based materials and 30 per cent plant-based materials sourced from sugar cane and molasses.

The company said that the bottle had an edge over some other plant-based plastics, as it can be processed through existing recycling facilities without contaminating traditional PET and as a result it can still be recycled easily without having to be separated from conventional plastics.

Some environmental groups have raised questions about the long-term sustainability of bioplastics, warning that as with biofuels, increased demand for crops could lead to shortages and contribute to deforestation.

However, according to a full lifecycle analysis commissioned by Coca-Cola with Imperial College London, the PlantBottle results in carbon emission reductions of up to 25 per cent compared with petroleum-based PET.

Muhtar Kent, chairman and chief executive of the Coca-Cola Company, hailed the new bottle as a "significant" step towards the company's goal of developing bottles made from materials that are "100 per cent recyclable and renewable".

The company said that it now planned to pilot the new bottle in North America through its Dasani and sparkling beverage brands later this year before rolling it out to its vitaminwater brands next year. It added that the new bottles would also be promoted using on-package messages and in-store point-of-sale displays, as well as a new online marketing campaign.