• November 16, 2009

The Coca-Cola Company has announced the start of global roll-out of its patented PlantBottle packaging.

The PET plastic bottles, made partially from plants, is 100% recyclable and will reduce the company's use of petroleum. Preliminary research indicates that the packaging's carbon footprint from the growing of materials through production of the resin is smaller than for bottles made with traditional PET, according to the company.

Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Light and Coca-Cola Zero in 500-ml and 2-liter sizes are now available in the PlantBottle packaging throughout Denmark. A variety of products, including Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fresca and Dasani, will be in PlantBottles in Western Canada beginning in December and for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Starting in January, PlantBottle packaging also will be used for sparkling brands and Dasani in several sizes in select markets in the western United States, including Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Future launches are being planned in other markets, including Brazil, Japan and Mexico, and for China's Shanghai Expo in 2010.

Coca-Cola has set a goal of producing 2 billion of the PlantBottles by the end of 2010.--Karlene Lukovitz