The Coca-Cola Company has announced that it has distributed more than 10 billion recyclable PlantBottle packages across the globe
The drinks giant has recently published its 2011-2012 global sustainability report.
It said that it had distributed 10 billion fully recyclable PlantBottle packages across 24 countries, eliminating the need for the equivalent of more than 200,000 barrels of oil since its debut in 2009.
Coca-Cola Company chairman and chief executive Muhtar Kent said that the firm had teamed up with major companies like Ford Motor, HJ Heinz, Nike, and Procter & Gamble (P&G) to boost the development of 100% plant-based PET materials in their products.
The PlantBottle is a fully recyclable PET plastic bottle made partially from plants. PlantBottle packaging is made by converting the natural sugars in sugarcane into bioethanol, which forms one of the key ingredients for making PET.
In its sustainability report, Coca-Cola said that it will continue to accelerate global production of plastic packaging made from plants. In September of this year, the company announced a partnership with JBF Industries.
To support the partnership, JBF Industries, will build the world's largest facility to produce bioglycol – the key ingredient used to make PlantBottle packaging.
Delay in launching packaging management system
Elsewhere, the firm said there was a delay in launching its packaging management system.
Two years ago, the firm announced a planned implementation of a new package management system that would have allowed it to better track packaging over its lifespan, enabling it to improve efficiency and better share successful packaging designs among multiple markets and multiple bottlers.
However, the firm said it delayed its launch because of "our main obstacle is data collection". It added: "Gathering information from our bottling partners around the world is taking more time than we expected".
