Coca-Cola, Ford, Heinz, Nike and Procter & Gamble have teamed up to create the formation of the Plant PET Technology Collaborative (PTC). This strategic group will aim to accelerate the development and use of 100% plant-based PET materials and fiber in their products.

Photo: Coca-Cola PlantBottle

The group is motivated by the success of the Coca-Cola’s PlantBottle packaging technology introduced in 2011. Currently, Heinz licenses the technology from Coca-Cola for select Heinz ketchup bottles in the U.S. and Canada. The other participating companies also use PET in a variety of products and materials they produce.

Now, the collaboration will expand the use of material across multiple industries that is partially made from plants to a solution made entirely from plants. PTC members will research and develop commercial solutions for PET plastic made entirely from plants as well as analyze the standards of its use, while reducing the use of fossil fuels.

«Fossil fuels like oil have significant impacts to the planet’s biodiversity, climate and other natural systems» said Erin Simon, Senior Program Officer of Packaging for World Wildlife Fund (WWF). «Sustainably managing our natural resources and finding alternatives to fossil fuels are both business and environmental imperatives. It’s encouraging to see these leading companies use their market influence to reduce dependence on petroleum-based plastics. We hope other companies will follow their lead.»