Nearly 1.6 billion servings of Coca-Cola-branded beverages are served each day. Now some of them will be just a little bit greener now that Coke has announced the global rollout of its PlantBottle, a plastic bottle made from a blend of petroleum-based materials and 30% plant based materials (derived from sugar cane and molasses). The new bottles stand to cut down on carbon emissions by up to 25% compared to traditional PET bottles.
The PlantBottle has a number of advantages over PET bottles and other plant-based bottles. In addition to its carbon cutting qualities, it can be processed through existing recycling facilities without contaminating petroleum-based bottles, and most importantly, it raises awareness of the need for more eco-friendly plastic bottles.
There’s just one problem: Coke is rolling out the PlantBottle for its Dasani brand of water. As avid readers of Inhabitat know, bottled water is anything but sustainable. Still, it’s a start, and Coke expects over 2 billion PlantBottles to have sold worldwide by the end of 2010. Next year, the company plans to expand the PlantBottle to its vitamin water brands as well. And eventually, Coke hopes to introduce bottles made from 100% recyclable and renewable materials.
Via Environmental Leader
Tell Coca Cola and other pet users we can convert all plastic bottles into synthetic bio oil, and a big problem has been solved. That is why we started CLEAN THE OCEAN project to clean up the plastic soup.
What about the fact that many sugar cane workers are treated poorly and are not given a decent wage? What about the fact that sugar cane farms destroy land for the sake of corporate profit?
Thanks, but no thanks, Coke.
Just stop buying bottled water, soda and other crap. They won’t stop selling them until we stop buying them. When will Americans/people realize the power of boycotting a product for moral reasons? The corporations only understand when you hit their wallet.
PSFK team reaction to Coke’s recent ‘big’ announcement was a little flat. The Coca Cola company is rolling out what they are calling a Plant Bottle which is part made up of plant based materials (30%) and reduces CO2 emissions by 25%. It’s a disappointing move by one of the largest companies in the world. We know you say that it’s a move in the right direction but people – it’s almost 2010 and if this is all the Atlanta based corporation can respond to waste and climate change concerns then we surely should all reconsider our relationship with its brands.
Agreed, Coca-Cola has a long way to go. For a line of truly sustainable foodservice items, check out the Palo Alto-based company World Centric — http://www.worldcentric.org/store. They manufacture plates, cups, utensils, straws, trays and more from annually renewable plant fibers (sugarcane bagasse, cornstarch, wheat straw). They are all 100% compostable. This company really gets it — they donate up to 25% of profits to ecological and food security projects in Africa and Asia.