Concerns surrounding plastic bottles are reaching a new high amongst consumers, which is seeing brands respond with new initiatives like the Coca-Cola 100% plant-based bottle. The bottle was created thanks to a partnership with Changchun Meihe Science & Technology and UPM, and consists of an entirely plant-based body. The packaging is achieved using paraxylene (bPX) using sugar that has been sourced from corn and is presently in the prototype phase with roughly 900 bottles produced.
Coca-Cola Chief Technical and Innovation Officer Nancy Quan commented on the new Coca-Cola 100% plant-based bottle saying, "We have been working with technology partners for many years to develop the right technologies to create a bottle with 100% plant-based content – aiming for the lowest possible carbon footprint – and it’s exciting that we have reached a point where these technologies exist and can be scaled by participants in the value chain."
Image Credit: The Coca-Cola Company
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Plant-based Packaging
- The rise of environmentalism has opened up opportunities for plant-based packaging to replace traditional plastic packaging.
- Green Technology
- The need for environmentally-friendly technology has increased and companies can invest in research to develop eco-friendly alternatives to traditional manufacturing processes.
- Sustainable Innovation
- Companies can develop more sustainable innovations that reduce the impact on the environment while increasing efficiency and profits.
Where This Applies
- Beverage Industry
- The Coca-Cola plant-based bottle provides disruptive innovation opportunities for beverage companies to create sustainable packaging and reduce carbon footprint.
- Packaging Industry
- The shift towards plant-based packaging offers opportunities for companies to develop and market new sustainable products that appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
- Technology Industry
- The Coca-Cola plant-based bottle opens up disruptive innovation opportunities for technology companies to develop more eco-friendly manufacturing methods.
