Coca-Cola Co. has introduced a new bottle made partially from plants that will not contaminate traditional recycling streams, according to the Atlanta beverage company.
The PlantBottle, as Coca-Cola calls it, includes up to 30 percent plant-based material. Specifically, it uses PET made using sugar cane and molasses as feedstocks. Coke blends the material with conventional PET resin.
Existing manufacturing and recycling facilities can process and recycle the bottle without contaminating traditional PET containers, said Scott Vitters, director of sustainable packaging.
The 30 percent blend of plant material reduces carbon emissions as much as 25 percent compared with petroleum-based PET, according to a life-cycle analysis by the Imperial College of London.