Coca-Cola Brazil launches PET bottle made from sugar cane

Material has partially source and aims to reduce the company's dependence on non-renewable resources, as well as decrease by up to 25% of carbon dioxide emissions, the main greenhouse gas
Coca-Cola Brazil, associate partner Akatu Institute, released on March 25, the Domino principle – first PET bottle made partially from material of vegetable origin, i.e. 30% plant-based. In its composition, ethanol from sugar cane, replaces oil part as input in new packaging, reducing in 25% CO2 emissions, the main greenhouse gas, at the same time decreases the dependence of the company in relation to non-renewable resources.
The launch took place at the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro and was attended by the Minister of the environment, Carlos Minc; the President of Coca-Cola Brazil, Zarazúa Xiemar; the Vice President of the company's technical and logistical, Rino Abbondi; the President of Unica (União da Indústria de Cana-de-Açúcar), Marcos Jank; and of Akatu Institute Operations Manager, Maureen Mello.
"There was a big mobilization and investment in order to reach the Domino principle and formula, with its launch, we confirm again our leading position in the packaging innovation. When overriding part of oil used in the manufacture of PET by ethanol from sugarcane, a renewable and abundant absolutely feature in the country, Coca-Cola Brazil inaugurates a new era for the plastic packaging, "said Xiemar Zarazúa, President of Coca-Cola Brazil.
The expectation is that, even in 2010, the initial production of the bottles Domino principle results in the reduction of use of over 5,000 barrels of oil, according to Rino Abbondi, Vice President of the company's technical and logistical.
The Minister of the environment, Carlos Minc, congratulated the initiative and expressed hope that "other companies follow initiatives such as this, reducing the use of fossil-based materials and investing in recyclable packaging". Minc said that the country is prepared for expansion of ethanol without harming food production. "There will be no sugar cane planting in food producing areas".
According to Rino Abbondi, Vice President of the company's technical and logistical, "Brazil is one of the first markets to adopt the Domino principle and we believe that, with this, Coca-Cola Brazil and its makers encourage other industries to take similar measures. It is worth noting that 100% as PlantBottle packaging from around the world will use Brazilian ethanol ".
No change of chemical properties, color, weight, or appearance in relation to conventional PET, the Domino principle is 100% recyclable and enters in the reuse of materials consolidated in the Country since his arrival to the market. The new bottles will be sold in April, initially in the packs of Coca Cola 500 ml and 600 ml, in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Recife and Porto Alegre.
Supply chain and sustainability
According to Coca-Cola, the sugar cane used to produce the Domino principle bottles comes from suppliers audited, using mainly natural irrigation (rain) and mechanical harvesting. In Brazil, 99.7% of the fields of sugar cane are at least 2,000 miles from Amazon.
"This is a fundamental commitment that companies need to take. In addition to seek initiatives environmental friendly production, they must inform the consumer of the production chains of its products. Only in this way the consumer can make their choice, rewarding companies that care about the preservation of natural resources, "says Stephen Mansfield, Operations Manager of Akatu Institute.