November 27, 2024 – A groundbreaking collaboration led by PET resin manufacturer Indorama Ventures, along with six industry giants, has recently introduced the world’s first bio-based PET bottle. Pioneering the application of this innovative product, Japanese beverage giant Suntory Group has incorporated it into selected production lines.
The initial batch of bio-PET bottles, totaling 45 million units, will be used to package Suntory’s unique beverages for market distribution. Looking ahead, Suntory plans to expand the use of this eco-friendly material across a wider range of product lines. This partnership brings together leading companies from various stages of the supply chain, united in their commitment to environmental sustainability.
In this collaborative framework, Mitsubishi Corporation oversees the entire supply chain’s strategic management, ensuring seamless coordination among all parties. Neste leverages its advanced technology at ISCC+ certified plants to convert waste cooking oil into bio-naphtha, a crucial raw material for production. Subsequently, Mitsui Chemicals processes this bio-naphtha into bio-paraxylene at its ISCC+ facilities. According to Color Masterbatch Industry News, ENEOS employs a mass balance approach to transform the intermediate material into bio-paraxylene, laying a solid foundation for bio-PET production.
Indorama Ventures then utilizes this bio-paraxylene to produce PTA (terephthalic acid), which reacts with MEG (monoethylene glycol) at its ISSC+ plants to form bio-PET. Iwatani Corporation ensures the safe and efficient transportation of this eco-resin from the production line to Suntory, where it is processed into bio-PET bottles.
This collaboration not only demonstrates the unity and ingenuity of industry leaders in addressing global sustainability challenges but also marks a significant breakthrough in reducing the environmental footprint of PET production. By adopting the mass balance method, the entire production process ensures transparent and effective integration of bio-based materials into PET bottles, offering consumers a more environmentally friendly and sustainable product choice.