Global beverage major Coca-Cola has introduced the first PET plastic bottle, which is developed entirely from renewable plant materials at Expo Milano 2015 being held in Milan, Italy.
The new PET bottle is the newest version of the company's PlantBottle packaging and comes on heels of the groundbreaking technology which aims to create a fully recyclable plastic bottle made from renewable plant materials.
Coca-Cola global research and development officer Nancy Quan said: "Our vision was to maximize game-changing technology, using responsibly sourced plant-based materials to create the globe's first fully recyclable PET plastic bottle made entirely from renewable materials."
The introduction follows a deal signed in 2011 between Virent and Coca-Cola to jointly develop Virent's bio-based PX technology for use in PET plastic bottles.
This technology converts natural sugars from plants into the ingredients while reducing environmental footprint, the company said.
Launched in 2009, the current version of the PlantBottle packaging comprises 30% plant-based materials. The company has supplied more than 35 billion bottles of the type till date to nearly 40 countries.
Since launch, the company estimates the use of PlantBottle packaging has helped save equivalent to more than 315,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually.
For PlantBottle packaging, the company is currently using sugarcane and waste from the sugarcane manufacturing process.
