Bio-based Energy & Materials Report, December 3, 2021 --- Suntory Group has created a prototype PET bottle made from 100% plant-based materials for Bottled Mineral Water from Orangina in Europe and Suntory Tennensui in Japan. The beverage producer aims to eliminate all petroleum-based virgin plastics from its global PET supply by 2030.
PET is produced using two raw materials, 70% terephthalic acid (PTA) and 30% monoethylene glycol (MEG).
The prototype bottle was made by combining Anellotech's technology, a plant-based paraxylene derived from wood chips that has been converted to plant-based PTA, and a pre-existing plant-based MEG made from molasses. Suntory has been using MEG in Japan for its Suntory Tennensui brand in Japan.
"We are delighted with this achievement because it brings us closer to delivering this [environmentally] sustainable PET bottle to our consumers," commented Tsunehiko Yokoi, Executive Officer of Suntory Monozukuri Expert.
"The significance of this technology is that PTA is produced from non-food biomass to avoid competition with the food chain, and MEG also comes from non-food grade ingredients."
It is estimated that fully recyclable prototype plant bottles can significantly reduce carbon emissions compared to oil-derived original bottles. Suntory's plant-based bottles are estimated to significantly reduce carbon emissions compared to oil-derived virgin bottles.
"Painstaking" R&D process
The plant bottle marks Suntory's breakthrough after nearly a decade of collaboration with American tech company Anellotech.
David Sudolsky, President and CEO of Anellotech, said: "This achievement is the result of more than a decade of thorough and painstaking development work by Anellotech's dedicated employees and Suntory and other partners. ”
"Anellotech's Bio-TCat paraxylene generation competitive advantage lies in its process efficiency, which uses a single-step thermocatalytic process that converts biomass directly into aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene and xylene) and significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to its fossil-derived paraxylene in the PET manufacturing process, especially when it generates the required process energy from the biomass feedstock itself."
Bioplastics boom
Based on market data compiled in collaboration with the nova-Institute, a prototype of a plant-based bottle is available after European Bioplastics (EUBP) reveals that global bioplastic production will more than triple over the next five years (2021-2026).
At the same time, Asia has further consolidated its position as a major production hub, where nearly 50% of bioplastics are now produced. Notably, the market share in Asia is expected to exceed 70% by 2026.
Nearly a quarter of the capacity is still located in Europe. However, eubP predicts that as production in Asia increases, the share of Europe and the rest of the world will decline significantly over the next five years. EuBP estimates that global bioplastics production will more than triple over the next five years.
In addition, the European Bioeconomy Union criticized the EU's life cycle assessment approach that compares bio-based plastics to traditional plastics, labeling them "unfit for use" and favoring fossil-based choices.
In a similar development, Coca-Cola launched a prototype of a plant-based PET bottle in October. The beverage giant produced a limited 900 bottles, confirming that the prototype could be recycled within the existing recycling infrastructure, as well as PET from oil sources.
Suntory is committed to sustainable development
Suntory's Plant Bottle is one of the latest investments in its history of addressing the social and environmental impact of containers and packaging. In 1997, the company developed the Container and Packaging Environment Design Guidelines.
In particular, when it comes to plastic bottles, it employs a 2R+B (Reduce/Recycle + Bio) strategy to reduce the weight of containers, including labels and caps, and is actively introducing recycled or plant-based materials into its plastic bottles worldwide.
Notably, it created the lightest cap, the thinnest label, and the lightest PET bottle ever produced in Japan.
"This plant-based bottle prototype underlines our historic dedication while illuminating our path to achieving our goal of fully [environmentally] sustainable PET bottles by 2030 and also moving towards 2050 as our ambition to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain," said Tomomi Fukumoto, Chief Operating Officer of Suntory Sustainability Management.
Last year, Suntory Beverage & Food GB and Irish brand Ribena minimised their labeling, ensuring bottles can be easily identified, sorted and recycled using standard industry technology. Blackcurrant beverages also contain 100% recycled PET.
Source: Bio-based Energy & Materials