TOLUCA, MEXICO — Mexican recycling giant PetStar SAPI de CV, owned by the System of Coca-Cola Bottlers in Mexico, has doubled the capacity of its facility to 130 million pounds through an investment in excess of $100 million.
In a news release PetStar, founded in 2006 and recently acquired by bottlers including Arca Continental SAB de CV, the second largest Coca-Cola bottler in Latin America, described the Toluca facility, about 40 miles west of Mexico City, as “the largest food-grade PET recycling plant in the world.”
“With this plant the Coca-Cola System in Mexico becomes [the] leader in food-grade recycling in Latin America,” PetStar said.
“This important project is part of Coca-Cola's commitment to the integral wellbeing of communities through the elaboration of environmentally friendly packages, Francisco Crespo, president of Coca-Cola Mexico, was quoted in the news release as saying.
“Thanks to PetStar, we are contributing to our global goal to incorporate recycled material in all our packages and today millions have up to 100 percent.”
Headquartered in Monterrey, northern Mexico, Arca Continental was formed in 2011 through the merger of Embotelladoras Arca and Grupo Continental. It is listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange.
According to the PetStar news release, the Coca-Cola Company also has a stake in PetStar, as do Embotelladora Bepensa SA de CV, Corporacion del Fuerte SA de CV, Corporacion Rica SA de CV, Embotelladora de Colima SA de CV and Embotelladora del Nayar SA de CV.
Mexico's President Enrique Peña Nieto officially inaugurated the facility's expansion on July 16. The plant has an on-site laboratory, a museum and auditorium, where events promoting “environmental education and a recycling culture” will be held, PetStar said.
PetStar has 1,100 full-time employees. Another 24,000 work for the company indirectly.
