News & Events
Heinz will now produce its ketchup bottles using PlantBottle® packaging, marking the biggest change to their iconic design since 1983.
Launched by Coca Cola in 2009, PlantBottle® packaging has a lower reliance on non-renewable resources compared with traditional PET plastic bottles, with nearly 30% of its material derived from plants.
Dr Richard Murphy, an Imperial academic in the Division of Biology, headed up an initial life cycle analysis of the product. His team were able to confirm that Coca Cola’s innovative packaging reduced CO2 impact by 12-19%.
In 2010 alone, the use of this breakthrough packaging eliminated the equivalent of almost 30,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, or approximately 60,000 barrels of oil.
Both Heinz and Coca Cola hope that others will follow in the use of more sustainable materials, transforming how food is packaged around the world.
Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a tool used to assess the environmental impact of a product or process.
Share post:
Latest news, insights and events
Qatar Robotics Surgery Centre launched in London
This month saw the official launch of the Qatar Robotic Surgery Centre, a collaboration between the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) and Imperial College London. read more
Press Release: Imperial team join IfM Engage consortium to boost UK semiconductor sector
Team from Imperial join IfM Engage consortium, commissioned by the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), for a study into infrastructure to grow the UK semiconductor industry - and a new strategic coordination function for the sector. read more
Gravity-based energy storage could prove a cheaper option
Imperial researchers predict that gravity-fed energy storage systems may provide long-term savings - and analysis suggests that technology from Gravitricity is well suited to provide grid balancing and rapid frequency response services to grid operators. read more