By Jill Park

Coca-Cola has revealed it has developed a new bottle made from a mixture of petroleum-based plastic and plant-based materials.

 

The PlantBottle is manufactured from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), which contains a blend of petroleum-based plastic and 30% plant-based materials.

 

These plant-based materials currently include sugar cane and molassess, a by-product of sugar production.

 

The PlantBottle can be recycled alongside existing PET plastic bottles in waste streams currently used and its manufacturing process uses up to 25% less carbon emissions.

 

Coca-Cola will trial the PlantBottle in North America with Dasani and carbonated drinks brands in select markets later this year, and with its Vitaminwater in 2010.

 

Coca-Cola director of sustainability communications Lisa Manley said the company's aim was to "bring to market the bottles made with 100% renewable and recyclable raw materials".

 

"This first-edition PlantBottle is made partially from plants, so it reduces our dependence on non-renewable resources," she told Packaging News.

 

"It is important to note that it is PET. What is unique is that it is PET made partially from plants."

From: packagingnews.co.uk