Odwalla plans to transition all of the brand's single-serve natural health beverage bottles to PlantBottle packaging in March 2011. The high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is made of up to 100-percent plant-based materials and is 100 percent recyclable.
Coca-Cola first introduced the PlantBottle in May 2009, using the Dasani water brand as the pilot program. At the time, the bottle was made from a blend of petroleum-based materials and as much as 30 percent plant-based materials.
PlantBottle packaging consists of material derived from molasses and sugarcane juice, and is said to have the same performance as traditional HDPE and PET bottles. There are no differences in shelf life, weight, composition or appearance, according to the company.
Odwalla estimates that the PlantBottle packaging is equal to a savings of almost 400,000 gallons of gas, compared to using petroleum-based packaging.
Odwalla also participates in the Plant A Tree Program, and has planted more than 300,000 trees over the last three years. The company also installed a Bloom Energy Fuel Cell system at its plant in Dinuba, Calif., which reduces the plant’s carbon footprint by 35 percent while supplying 30 percent of the plant’s energy needs.
In the household cleaner sector, Replenish has unveiled its flagship eco-friendly household cleaning product in a reusable bottle with a replaceable concentrate pod.
The reusable bottle is also made of 100-percent recyclable materials. In addition, the all-in-one bottle allows consumers to measure, mix with water, store and spray cleaners using replaceable Concentrate Pods. Using the built-in measuring cup, each Concentrate Pod makes four bottles (64 ounces diluted ounces) of cleaner.
Replenish says the household cleaner is made from natural, sustainable ingredients that are non-toxic to aquatic life, readily biodegradable and PH Neutral.
The company estimates that by mixing the Replenish Concentrate Pods at home, the new product reduces the amount of plastic, energy and CO2 emissions by 90 percent compared to pre-mixed cleaners.