Applications News
Applications News Ketchup in Biobased PET Toyota launched the ‘Prius ‘ with interior components made of Sorona EP in Japan in May 2011. PTT for Automotive Air Outlet Toyota’s new hybrid vehicle, ‘Prius ’, features automotive interior parts made of DuPont Sorona ® EP polymer, a high-performance, partly renewably sourced thermoplastic resin (PTT Polytrimethylenterephthalate), contributing to the advanced interior design while also reducing the environmental footprint. Developed in close collaboration with DuPont Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Motor Corporation, Kojima Press Industry Co., Ltd. and Howa Plastics Co., Ltd., the parts are used on the instrument-panel airconditioning system outlet. Sorona EP was selected for this precisely engineered, functional component for its heat resistance and durability required to control the intensity and direction of the air blowing out of the outlet. The PTT polymer contains between 20 and 37% by wt. renewably sourced material. The biobased monomer component is DuPont Tate & Lyle Susterra 1,3 propanediol (bio-PDO) as a key intermediate, derived from plant sugar (corn). The new material exhibits performance and molding characteristics similar to petroleum-based, highperformance PBT (polybutylene terephthalate). Sorona EP thermoplastic polymer production reduces both carbon dioxide emissions and the use of petrochemicals used to produce the PBT that is typically used for conventional auto interior parts. The material also offers lower warpage, improved surface appearance and good dimensional stability, making it very attractive in a range of uses for automotive parts and components, electrical and electronics systems as well as industrial and consumer products. MT H.J. Heinz Company, headquartered in Pittsburg; Pennsylvania, USA, one of the world’s leading marketers and producers of ketchup and much more recently announced a strategic partnership (an industry-first) with the Coca-Cola Company that enables Heinz to produce its ketchup bottles using Coca-Cola’s breakthrough PlantBottle packaging. The PET plastic bottles are made partially from plants (30% by wt. monoethyleneglykol made using sugarcane ethanol from Brazil). PlantBottle packaging looks, feels and functions just like traditional PET plastic, and remains fully recyclable. “This partnership is a great example of how businesses are working together to advance smart technologies that make a difference to our consumers and the planet we all share,” said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. Heinz’s adoption of the PlantBottle technology will be the biggest change to its iconic ketchup bottles since they first introduced plastic in 1983. “The partnership of Coca-Cola and Heinz is a model of collaboration in the food and beverage industry that will make a sustainable difference for the planet,” said Heinz Chairman, President and CEO William R. Johnson. “Heinz Ketchup is going to convert to PlantBottle globally, beginning (...) this summer.” Heinz will launch PlantBottle in all 20 oz ketchup bottles in June. Packaging will be identified by a special logo and onpack messages. Switching to PlantBottle is another important step in Heinz’s global sustainability initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, solid waste, water consumption and energy usage at least 20% by 2015. Heinz will introduce 120 million partly biobased PET bottle packages in 2011 and The Coca-Cola Company will use more than 5 billion during the same time. Together, the companies will significantly reduce potential carbon emissions while adding more renewable materials to the recycling stream. In time, plastic Heinz Ketchup bottles globally will be made from PlantBottle packaging and by 2020, Coca-Cola’s goal is to transition all of its plastic packaging to PlantBottle packaging. MT www.heinz.com www.dupont.com 30 bioplastics MAGAZINE [04/11] Vol. 6
