New Dasani Bottle Made Partially of Plant Material

May 14, 2009

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Coca-Cola has introduced the PlantBottle, a fully recyclable plastic bottle made partially from plant material.

The PlantBottle, which is being piloted with the Dasani water brand, puts Coca-Cola on course to eventually introduce bottles made from 100 percent recyclable and renewable materials, said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of the beverage company.

The new bottle is made from a blend of petroleum-based materials and as much as 30 percent plant-based materials.

The PlantBottle is made from a process that turns sugar cane and molasses, a by-product of sugar production, into a component for PET plastic, according to a press release. Future generations of the PlantBottle may use other plant material.

Using 30 percent plant material for the bottle reduces the bottle’s carbon emissions by 25 percent, according to a life-cycle analysis conducted by Imperial College of London.

The PlantBottle can be processed through existing manufacturing and recycling facilities without contaminating traditional PET, Coke said.

In addition to Dasani, Coca-Cola will use the bottle for sparkling brands in select markets later this year, and it will add vitaminwater in 2010.

The sustainable aspects of the bottles will be promoted through on-package messages and in-store point of sale displays, as well as on the Web.

Less than a month ago, Coca-Cola made headlines with its push to “green” the nation’s Capitol through use of hybrid delivery vehicles, a recycling program and more.

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Reader Comments

This is great news, although sustainable plastic is nothing new, it is a big step in the right direction for coke.

The focus on bottled water being a catastrophe is far too cynical. Clean water is good for you, everyone should drink it, to call bottled water drinkers the new smokers is ridiculous. Coke is providing a sustainable solution to the increasing market of bottled products and they should be congratulated. I only hope that they will use 100% plant material sooner rather than later and other manufactures will follow suit quickly.

Marc | May 14th, 2009

A good initiative by the corporation. However, efforts need to be continued to increase the ratio of plant material in the blend.

Azhar Qureshi | May 15th, 2009