Sweet combination

The Coca-Cola Company has unveiled a new plastic bottle made from a blend of petroleum and plant-based materials.

The company's PlantBottle is recyclable, has a lower reliance on a non-renewable resource, and reduces carbon emissions, compared with petroleum-based PET plastic bottles.

Traditional PET bottles are made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. The new bottle is made both from a blend of petroleum-based materials as well as from a material created from sugar cane and molasses, which are both by-products of sugar production.

Manufacturing the new plastic bottle is claimed to be more environmentally efficient too. A life-cycle analysis conducted by Imperial College London indicates the PlantBottle with 30 per cent plant-based material reduces carbon emissions by up to 25 per cent, compared with a wholly petroleum-based PET product.

Another advantage is that, unlike other plant-based plastics, it can be processed through existing manufacturing and recycling facilities without contaminating traditional PET.

Coca-Cola North America will pilot the PlantBottle with Dasani and sparkling brands in select markets later this year. The company is also exploring the use of other plant materials for future generations.