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Recycling Overview Recycling Strategy
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While PET is already the most recycled type of plastic, it is still based on non-renewable fossil fuels. As a result, we are working with The Coca-Cola Company to explore alternative packaging materials. In 2009, the Coca-Cola system introduced one such alternative: PlantBottle. The PlantBottle is a fully recyclable PET bottle made from a blend of petroleum-based materials and up to 30 percent plant-based materials, which are derived from a by-product of sugar production. Unlike other plant-based plastics such as polylactide (PLA), the PlantBottle is chemically identical to traditional PET and does not contaminate the recycling stream. Because it incorporates renewable resources, it also has a lower carbon footprint than traditional PET (see "Our Product Footprints"). The new, specially labeled package is being piloted with Dasani and Coca-Cola in select North American markets. In 2010, we are exploring the possibility of using the PlantBottle for our vitaminwater and smartwater products. While the desire for this type of innovation is high, our challenge is to make the continued use of such materials commercially feasible, because at present there is a significant additional cost. |