Coca-Cola sets sights on sustainability with next-generation PlantBottle packaging solutions

ATLANTA — In an effort to support its long-term commitments through sustainable practices in sourcing and packaging supply, Coca-Cola has inked partnership agreements with three biotechnology companies to commercialize the brand's PlantBottle packaging.

Agreements were signed with Virent, Gevo and Avantium after Coca-Cola’s research and development team and technical advisory board conducted a two-year analysis of different technologies.

“While the technology to make bio-based materials in a lab has been available for years, we believe Virent, Gevo and Avantium are companies that possess technologies that have high potential for creating them on a global commercial scale within the next few years,” Coca-Cola VP commercial product supply Rick Frazier said. “This is a significant R&D investment in packaging innovation and is the next step toward our vision of creating all of our plastic packaging from responsibly sourced plant-based materials.”

Since being introduced in 2009, more than 10 billion PlantBottle packages — made 100% from plant-based materials — have been distributed across 20 countries worldwide.