Coca-Cola, Ford, Heinz, Nike and P&G team up for plastics research

ATLANTA—Five of the world’s biggest companies have formed a strategic working group to accelerate the development plant-based plastics.

Dubbed the Plant PET Technology Collaborative (PTC), The Coca-Cola Co., Ford Motor Co., H.J. Heinz Co., NIKE, Inc. and Procter & Gamble are working to develop 100 per cent plant-based polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to use in their plastic bottles, apparel, footwear and automotive fabric and carpet.

The success of Coca-Cola’s “PlantBottle” packaging—which is partially made from plants and has demonstrated a lower environmental impact when compared to traditional PET plastic bottles—was the impetus behind the project. Currently, Heinz licenses the technology ketchup bottles in the U.S. and Canada.

“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,” said Erin Simon, senior program officer of packaging for World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The PTC will focus on researching and developing commercial solutions for PET plastic made entirely from plants and hopes to develop common methodologies and standards for the use of plant-based plastic, including life cycle analyses and universal terminology.

Financial details of the collaboration were not disclosed.