The brand leader has struck a deal with JBF Industries to expand manufacture of its PlantBottle material first launched in 2009. Since then, over 10 billion packages of PlantBottle have been distributed across 24 countries – saving an equivalent of more than 200,000 barrels of oil.

As part of the agreement, JBF Industries will build the world’s largest facility to produce bioglycol, the key ingredient used to make PlantBottle packaging. The plant will be located in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and will utilise locally sourced sugarcane and sugarcane processing waste in the manufacturing process.

Construction on the new facility is expected to begin at the end of this year and will last for 24 months. At full capacity, it is estimated it will produce 500,000 metric tonnes of material per year.

Coca-Cola has set itself a target of using Plantbottle packaging technology in all of its plastic bottles by 2020. According to the company, the new facility will remove the equivalent of 690,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

Coca-Cola’s vice president & chief procurement officer Ronald Lewis said that the benefits of sustainable innovation are only fully realised when commercialised and put in the hands of consumers.

“Coca-Cola has sold more than 10 billion PlantBottle packages around the world that are less dependent on petroleum and have a lower carbon impact. We are pleased that our partnership with JBF Industries will help us further expand global production.”

Maxine Perella

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