Carlsberg could soon be selling beer in bottles made of corn or beets, which are compostable and recyclable.
The European brewer is poised be among the first companies to take advantage of a new type of plant-based plastic made from sustainably-grown corn, wheat or beet crops.
Netherlands biochemical company Avantium has found a way to use plant sugars to create plastic drink bottles, food packaging films, and textile fibres, as an alternative to current packaging materials made from fossil-based chemicals.
These plant sugars are broken down into chemical structures and then rearranged to form plastic bottles strong enough to contain carbonated beverages – and these are also compostable and recyclable.
Carlsberg, Coca-Cola and dairy maker Danone have pledged to use the technology when it’s ready for commercial use.
Avantium says it aims to finalise fundraising to commercialise its plant plastic bottle project by the end of this year, and Carlsberg, beverage giant Coca-Cola and dairy maker Danone have pledged to use the technology when it’s ready for commercial use, which is expected to be in 2023.
Carlsberg reportedly plans to sell its beer in a cardboard bottle lined with an inner layer of the plant plastic.
Avantium says it plans to eventually source plant sugars from sustainably-sourced biowaste to reduce the impact of its plant plastic on the global food supply chain.
Is it ready to roll?
Who funds it?
Avantium is a pioneer in renewable and sustainable chemistry. Avantium expects to announce a major investment in its bioplastics plant by the end of 2020.
Get involved
Avantium produces materials based on renewable feed stock in place of fossil fuels. You can find out more at Avantium’s website by clicking here.
