R&D Packaging

Green Bottle: Bio-PET and PLA

2 Aug 2012

Bio-PET Bottle

Bio-PET Bottle

Can be sourced from Far Eastern Group, commercially available

WHAT IS IT?

A mixture of Monoethylene Glycol (MEG) and Purified Terephthalate Acid (PTA)

bio-MEG(30%)

Corn & sugar derivative

PTA(70%)

Bio-PET

Petrochemical derivative

CURRENT USE:

Currently being used by Evian (Europe) and Coca-Cola in 9 countries for CSD (CocaCola, Light, Zero), water (Dasani), vitamin water (Glaceau) and blended tea (Sokenbicha)

Bio-PET Bottle
COST IMPACT:
Preform/bottle: Cost is ~30% more expensive than existing 100% PET
No

additional investments required as preform & bottle can be produced through existing
processes & equipment. Preform & PET bottle can be supplied by Pet Far.
BOTTLE PERFORMANCE:
Performances (top load, MOCON etc.) are on par with normal PET bottle
END OF LIFE:
PET recycle process

PLA Bottle

PLA Resin
(Ingeo)

PLA Bottle

PLA Bottle

Resin & preform can be sourced from Natureworks, commercially available

WHAT IS IT?

100% plant based Polylactic acid (PLA), currently, the dextrose (sugar) is derived from
corn

commercial name is Ingeo biopolymer

Corn

Dextrose

Lactic Acid

fermentation by
microorganisms

Polylactid Acid (PLA) resins

polymerization

CURRENT USE:

Currently being used by:

Water: Avitez (Thai), Natures Bottle (USA), Bliss (Canada), Eco Island (Aus), Renewal
(USA), Aqua Plus (NZ), SantAnna (Italy)

Edible oil: Nisshin edible oil (Japan)

Juice: Noble Juice (USA)

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PLA Bottle
COST IMPACT:
Resin: Cost is ~35% more expensive than existing 100% PET
Preform

injection mold: Investment in preform injection mold may be required as different

preform design may be required for PLA resin bottle
BOTTLE PERFORMANCE:
Top load is better than normal PET bottle
Gas

(CO2, O2,) & water barrier of PLA is 8-10 times worse than existing PET bottle, hence,
recommended only for water packing
Short

shelf life (6 months) and bottle may turn yellowish over time due to the characteristics

of PLA
Not

recommended for light weighting, empty bottle/FG must be kept at below 40 0C

(compostable at T=600C and humidity=95% in 180 days)
END OF LIFE:
PLA recycle process convert to virgin PLA
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Evaluation for use

For R&D trial:
To verify bottle performances:-Robustness (drop impact, supply chain abuse)
-Product compatibility (Keeping Quality)
-Gas barrier (for Bio-MEG only)
against existing bottle & results analysis require approx. 5 months

Summary
Bio-PET Bottle

PLA Bottle

Supplier

PET Far

Natureworks

Material

Bio-MEG + PTA = Bio-PET

(MEG plant derivative)

PLA (Ingeo Biopolymer)

(Fully derived from plant)

Current Use

Water & tea:

-Evian (Water in Europe),
-Coca-Cola (Water in Japan,
blended tea)

Water:
- Avitez (Thai),
- Natures Bottle (USA),
- Bliss (Canada),
- Eco Island (Aus),
- Renewal (USA),
- Aqua Plus (NZ)

CSD:
-Coca-Cola (South America)
Cost Impact

Bottle Performance

Bottle cost: 30% higher than

existing bottle

- Resin cost: 35% higher than existing

PET resin

Investment: None required

- Investment: New injection mold for

different preform design for
preform/bottle supplier

Similar as existing bottle

10X worse gas & water barrier property