Brazil is taking sustainability a step further

Coca-Cola Brazil is starting work on the construction of the largest BioMeg producing factory in the world.  The material is the main ingredient of recyclable PlantBottle production. Part of the composition of the PlantBottle has plant origin. (Read more about PlantBottle technology)

3D Illustrator: Simon Tuckett

The Brazilian factory will be located in Araraquara, Sao Paulo. The great sustainable innovation is that cane sugar produced in the same region will be used in the PlantBottle production. Another interesting fact is that the by-products of the process will be used in the production of packaging resin. This will reduce the tons of carbon dioxide that pollute the environment.

Thanks to this initiative, Brazil will become the largest producer and exporter of BioMeg the world, with an estimated production capacity of 500,000 tons per year. The venture is expected to generate 1,650 direct and indirect jobs.  Coca Cola aims to have only recyclable packaging designs in its portfolio by 2015.

Related articles

• Crush the bottle! (sustainableandfashionable.wordpress.com)
• More plant-based plastic bottles coming from Coca-Cola (greenerideal.com)
• Coke, JBF Plan ‘World’s Largest’ Bi-Glycol Facility for PlantBottle (environmentalleader.com)

Crush the bottle!

Many brands are investing in sustainable packaging. This year Crystal the water brand from Coca Cola Brazil has launched their new bottle made with 20% less volume PET plastic. Chemicals and Petroleum products are usually used to produce PET. The Crystal bottle is manufactured using PET plastic that contains 30% sugar cane. Thanks to the new process and technologies used, Coca Cola claims that carbon emissions are reduced by 20%.

Another advantage of the design of the new bottle is that you can crush it once you finish drinking. This crushable bottle takes 37% less volume than a conventional water bottle making it easier to be transported and stocked by companies that collect and recycle PET packaging.

The idea of this kind of packaging in the beverage industry is not new. In 2009 Coca Cola launched Plantbottle Technology in Japan. The technology also uses plants in the production process to reduce carbon the materials carbon footprint.

The Crystal brand says “We did our job producing and implementing a new bottle more environmentally friendly, now it is up to the consumers to crush the bottle after use and help to reduce the volume of the recycled waste”. 

The brand invites people to participate to projects involving recycling around Brazil. The country is considered as a leader in recycling in South America but has a very long way to go.

The marketing team from the Brazilian brand Crystal also came up with a great campaign that says “Crush it, make a wish and attract good vibes”. This slogan suits Brazilian culture. We love things where you have to make a wish.

It is inspiring to see more and more brands investing in sustainable packaging.

Click here to watch the video and understand more about the PlantBottle technology.

 

 

Mana Bernardes a Brazilian designer

This week I have discovered a very creative Brazilian artist designer from Rio de Janeiro. Some fashion magazines call Mana Bernardes ‘the jewellery magician’. She became famous for transforming trash in to fashion.

Made with recycled PET bottles

For 10 years she has been using recycled materials to design and produce amazing jewellery. Beautiful necklaces, bracelets, hair clips and other accessories made of PET bottles, marbles, rope and even hairpins! I love it so much that I have pinned some fantastic items in to my Pinterest board under ‘Fashion’.

Mana worked and exposed her creations in Paris, Los Angeles, New York and many cities in Brazil. Her creativity is fresh, trendy and full of joy! She also writes poems. Her book ‘Mana e Manuscritos’ was published by the editor ‘Aeroplano’. Very active Mana also gives conferences, works with some Brazilian NGO’s teaching kids to make jewelry with recycled materials.

Unfortunately her website is in Portuguese, but the link below shows an archive of some of her amazing creations. I just love it!

http://manabernardes.com/arquivos/joias/